Efforts to contain two wildfires by Northern California firefighters continued today as the fires continued to threaten homes and businesses.
The Ponderosa wildfire, located 170 miles north of Sacramento, has consumed 28, 098 acres, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection stated on their website. The blaze began on Saturday when lightning struck and has spread due to dry conditions in the area.
As of Friday, the department announced that 68 percent of the fire had been contained. Nine hundred residences, 10 commercial properties and 30 outbuildings remained threatened the report said.
The Christian Science Monitor reported that air tankers and helicopters made repeated water drops over the fire on Thursday.
According to the Monitor, CalFire Division Chief Scott Lindgren said, "The further east we go, the harder it is to stop this thing. The problem is, we catch it up on top (of the basalt rim rock) at night, but we can't catch it on the bottom (of the canyon) because of the cliff."
The CalFire website reported that Canyon View Loop North of Highway 36 remains evacuated and that an evacuation warning has been issued for residents living near Highway 36 from Oasis Springs Road to Mineral.
Further south, in Plumas National Forest, firefighters continued to fight off a large wildfire that has consumed 63, 147 acres. According to the Plumas National Forest fire unit, Chips fire, which began in late July, is 55 percent contained and is not expected to be fully contained until August 31.
The wildfire, located about 120 miles north of Sacramento, has forced officials to issue a mandatory evacuation in Canyon Dam and the Big Meadows area. A voluntary evacuation also is in place for Rush Creek and an advisory is in place for Prattville.