California wildfire could merge into mega-inferno
SAN FRANCISCO – Crews kept a wary eye Thursday on potentially turbulent winds that could whip up two fierce wildfires in Northern California amid fears one could merge with a third blaze into a mega-inferno of more than 1 million acres.
Weather forecasts called for gusty winds, extreme heat and low humidity in the wine country north of San Francisco, which may further fuel the Glass Fire as it continues to torch the hills above the town of Calistoga.
Similar conditions may prompt the Zogg Fire, which has burned through 55,303 acres near Redding and left four people dead, to fuse with the August Complex Fire – which has already incinerated 955,513 acres.
The August Complex Fire was 47% contained as of Thursday; the Zogg Fire was 26% contained, nearly three times as much as the previous day as firefighters made considerable progress.
In the wine country counties of Napa and Sonoma, more than 70,000 people remained under evacuation orders Thursday as the Glass Fire continued to rage. The blaze, at just 5% containment, has burned 56,781 acres and destroyed 248 homes and businesses.
As flames closed in, firefighters were battling to save Calistoga in Napa County, which evacuated its entire population of 5,000 on Monday. More fire crews and equipment were deployed overnight, raising the number of firefighters to 2,100. Red flag warnings of extreme fire danger were expected to continue into Friday evening for large stretches of Northern California.
“Every time we try to construct some control lines, the fire is outflanking us, so we have to pull back,” Cal Fire Chief Mark Brunton said.
Pacific Gas & Electric also cut power to an additional 3,100 customers in Napa County at the request of firefighters, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported.
Heartbroken Santa Rosa residents
Nikki and Kevin Conant returned to their wine country rental home Wednesday to find a charred shell and incinerated chunks of wine barrels they used for custom-made art and furniture.
They recalled spotting an orange glow in the hills near their home as they fled Sunday – and within 45 minutes, they could hear ominous sounds of trees crackling and propane tanks exploding.
“I thought we were going to burn alive. I really did. It was horrible,” Nikki Conant said.