California Fires Latest: More Than 1,000 Homes Destroyed

CALIFORNIA -- Firefighters prepared Wednesday for another day of dry conditions as wildfires raged across the state, destroying more than 1,000 homes. Triple digit temperatures with more erratic winds were expected in many of the areas where wildfires continue to burn steep terrain.

The Carr Fire in Shasta and Trinity counties has been the deadliest of the fires. The blaze grew to 121,000 acres Wednesday with officials saying it was bigger than the city of Denver. The fire, which was 35 percent contained, claimed the lives of six people, including two firefighters.

Two wildfires in Mendocino County grew to 97,900 acres Wednesday evening. The River Fire was 38 percent contained, while the Ranch Fire was 15 percent contained. Both fires, which erupted Friday afternoon, forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents. Ten homes have been burned in the blazes and officials estimate 12,000 more remain threatened. A third wildfire, the Eel Fire, erupted Tuesday in the same county, burning at least 1,000 acres as of Wednesday afternoon.

Elsewhere in Northern California, the Ferguson Fire continued to burn, entering its 20th day. Burning more than 63,000 acres, the fire was 39 percent contained by Wednesday. The Mariposa County fire claimed the lives of two firefighters.

The Whaleback Fire, which forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 people in Lassen County, was 6 percent contained after burning 9,300 acres.

In Southern California, firefighters were gaining control of the Cranston Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest. By Wednesday morning, the fire that burned 13,000 acres was 92 percent contained.

Photo: From the Carr Fire consume trees near State Highway 299 on July 30, 2018 west of Redding, California. (Photo by Terray Sylvester/Getty Images)

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