Applegate Fire: Crews Getting Upper Hand, But Heat, Winds Create Large Threat

PLACER COUNTY (CBS13) — Crews are gaining the upper hand on the Applegate Fire, but high winds and heat this weekend could complicate the fight.

The fire has only spread to 459 acres over three days, but has destroyed six homes and four outbuildings. It is about 55 percent contained and is still threatening 1,000 homes.

Paul Garrity thought he lost everything.

"I didn't know to tell her," he said. "I said I think our house is gone."

His home was spared, and he was allowed back on Friday. But hundreds more people like Paul still don't know the fate of their homes.

Good firefighting weather has helped crews get around the blaze that started on Wednesday, but north winds on Saturday are expected to make the fight harder according to a Cal Fire spokeswoman.

"That change is going to be a problem, the humidities start dropping, the temperatures are expected to rise," said Lynne Tolmachoff.

The biggest threat, she says, are when winds line up directly with the canyons like they did with the King Fire that burned nearly 100,000 acres.

"This is active fire, you're worried about spotting," she said. "Pieces of flame coming down into this canyon. If it hits this canyon, it will just move through."

She says that's what is keeping people from being allowed back in their homes and crews needing to be ready for anything.

"It's a case of not letting any of them go. we've got a lot of firefighters on it now, we're looking at about 1,400 firefighters assigned to this and will do so for at least the next couple of days," she said.