California wildfires spread
A helicopter drops water on the King Fire in Pacific House, northeast of Sacramento, Calif., Sept. 18, 2014. A force of nearly 3,700 firefighters struggled to stop the forward march of the King Fire, the largest and most dangerous of 11 major wildfires raging across California, but had managed to cut containment lines around 5 percent of the flames as of Thursday morning, officials said.
Georgetown
Firefighter Cameron Andersen, of the US Forest Service, pours water on burning embers while clearing hot spots of the King fire in the El Dorado National Forest near Georgetown, Calif., Sept. 18, 2014.
Fresh Pond
Smoke rises from trees burnt overnight by the King Fire in Fresh Pond northeast of Sacramento, Calif., Sept. 18, 2014.
Pacific House
John Lopez, a firefighter with the Orange County Fire Authority, hoses a hot spot along Highway 50 at the King Fire northeast of Sacramento, Calif., Sept. 18, 2014. A force of nearly 3,700 firefighters struggled to stop the forward march of the King Fire, the largest and most dangerous of 11 major wildfires raging across California, but had managed to cut containment lines around 5 percent of the flames as of Thursday morning, officials said.
Georgetown
Firefighters from the US Forest Service, pours clean up hot spots of the King fire in the El Dorado National Forest near Georgetown, Calif., Sept. 18, 2014. More than 3,500 firefighters from various agencies are battling the blaze that started Saturday and has burned more than 70,000 acres.
Fresh Pond
Firefighters battle a wall of flames from the King fire near Fresh Pond, Calif., Sept. 17, 2014. The blaze that started Sunday has consumed more than 18,000 acres and is only 5 percent contained.
Fresh Pond
A firefighter is shrouded in smoke as he battles the King fire near Fresh Pond, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014.
Fresh Pond
This image provided by NASA shows the King Fire taken by NASA's Aqua satellite Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2014. The out-of-control wildfire in Northern California threatened more than 2,000 homes and consumed huge swaths of timber land east of Sacramento. 2,500 firefighters were taking on the blaze that was threatening 2,003 homes and another 1,505 smaller structures, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
Fresh Pond
A firefighter battling the King Fire watches as a backfire burns along Highway 50 in Fresh Pond, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014.
Fresh Pond
A firefighter battling the King Fire sprays water on a backfire in Fresh Pond, Calif., Sept. 17, 2014. F
Fresh Pond
A firefighter battling the King Fire watches a backfire burn along Highway 50 in Fresh Pond, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014. The fire led officials to call on about 400 people to evacuate from areas threatened by the blaze, Cal Fire spokeswoman Alyssa Smith said. It has charred more than 11,500 acres as of Sept. 16.
Fresh Pond
Flames and smoke from the King Fire fill the sky above Fresh Pond, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014.
Weed
Kathy Besk, left, cries with her daughter Shelley Besk as they stand in the burned-out ruins of their home in Weed, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014.
Fueled by high winds, the fast-moving Boles Fire swept through the town of Weed, burning 100 structures that included the high school and a lumber mill.
Weed
Kathy Besk holds three of her rings found by CalFire firefighters in the burned-out remains in Weed, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014.
Weed
A walkway leads to the remains of a destroyed home in Weed, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014.
Pollack Pines
An aerial tanker drops its load of fire retardant on the fire near Pollack Pines, Calif., Sept. 15, 2014.
The fire, which started Sunday has consumed more than 3,000 acres and forced the evacuation of dozens of homes.
Weed
Foscheck fire retardant covers a car in front of a home after a wildfire in Weed, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014.
Weed
Foscheck fire retardant covers a pile of wood and camper in front of a home in Weed, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014.
Weed
A section of a structure stands over the remains of destroyed business in Weed, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014.
Weed
A resident paints a thank you message for firefighters on the roof of his home that was spared by the Boles Fire in Weed, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014.
Weed
A cyclist stops to take a picture of the remains of destroyed homes oin Weed, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014
Pollack Pines
Smoke from a wildfire rises into the sky near Pollack Pines, Calif., Sept. 15, 2014.
Fresh Pond
A jet drops retardant on the King Fire near Fresh Pond, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014.
More than 1,000 firefighters were battling the 8,600-acre blaze in dense forest and steep terrain in El Dorado County. Nearly 250 homes were under a mandatory evacuation order, while residents of another 400 houses were advised they could voluntarily leave, the county sheriff's office said. Cal Fire reported one injury associated with the fire, which was 5 percent contained and more than doubled in size on Monday.
Weed
Children are evacuated from their elementary school by their teachers in Weed, Calif. as smoke from a wildfire rises over a hill behind the school, Sept. 15, 2014.
In just a few hours, wind-driven flames destroyed or damaged 100 homes, the saw mill and a church in Weed on Monday. At times, the fire moved so fast that residents had only a few minutes to get out of the way.
Pollack Pines
Firefighter Jesse Hadorowski climbs up steep terrain while battling a fire near Pollack Pines, Calif., Sept. 15, 2014.
Pollack Pines
Firefighters hose down hot spots of the King Fire near Pollack Pines, Calif., Sept. 15, 2014.
Pollack Pines
A Skycrane helicopter refills its tanks with water to battle the King Fire near Pollack Pines, Calif., Sept. 15, 2014.
Fresh Pond
The King Fire burns near Fresh Pond, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014.
Klamath National Forest
Fire suppression activities are seen at the Happy Camp complex fire in the Klamath National Forest, Calif., Sept. 14, 2014.
Bass Lake
Fire approaches the shore of Bass Lake, Calif., Sept. 14, 2014.