Northern Calif. fire jumps from 6K to 54K acres in less than a day

A new fire has exploded into a dynamo in Northern California, leveling towns in the area and forcing evacuations, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.

The Caldor fire began several days ago, is zero percent contained and jumped from covering 6,000 to 54,000 acres of land in less than 24 hours in Lake Tahoe Tuesday night, the Chronicle reported. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said that the fire’s rapid growth was caused by “low humidity and extremely dry fuels.” 

Caldor Fire Incident Update: 8/18/21 AM#caldorfire @EldoradoNF @ElDoradoSheriff pic.twitter.com/vDWlGxwRG9

— CAL FIRE AEU (@CALFIREAEU) August 18, 2021

Eldorado County residents were evacuated from the area due to the Caldor fire and filled two shelters to capacity Tuesday, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.

As a result of the flames’ rapid spread, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) declared a state of emergency Tuesday.

The fire has decimated communities in the area of Grizzly Flats, about 65 miles outside of Sacramento, CNN noted. The flames have burned at least one elementary school, one community church and one post office in the area, The Sacramento Bee reported.

The news comes as the Dixie fire, the second largest fire in California state history, heads toward a city of 15,000 after only 31 percent containment, according to The New York Times.