Northern California wildfires continue to rage, burn homes

1/21

The sun rises behind Mt. Shasta overlooking the devastated Angel Valley neighborhood two days after the Boles Fire, pushed by heavy winds devastated this town near the California and Oregon border. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

2/21

Crews work to extinguish fire that continues to burn below the surface of a large pile of wood chips at the Roseburg Mill, two days after the wind whipped Boles Fire blew through the town of Weed. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

3/21

The melted ruins of an old car sits in the driveway of a home in the Angel Valley neighborhood of Weed, CA. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

4/21

Fire retardant paints a grass field orange in the Angel Valley neighborhood of Weed, CA. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

5/21

Firefighters put out hotspots at a still smoldering home in a neighborhood destroyed by a devastating fire that rage through Weed, Calif., destroying 150 buildings. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

6/21

Hundreds of homes are in ruins a day after a wildfire, pushed by heavy winds, devastated Weed, Calif., a town near the California and Oregon border. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

7/21

Seemingly unscathed logs are stacked next to piles of smoldering logs at the Roseburg Mill a day after the Boles fire, pushed by heavy winds, devastated Weed, Calif. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

8/21

Vacaville firefighter Chris Mickelson looks for hot spots where dozens of homes lay in ruins a day after a wildfire, pushed by heavy winds, struck Weed, Caliif. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

9/21

A sign of thanks painted on the rooftop of a home spared by the Boles fire can be seen from nearby lots of smoldering debris in Weed, Calif. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

10/21

Santa Rosa city firefighters clear debris in search of hot spots in the Angel Valley neighborhood of Weed, Calif., where many homes were destroyed by the Boles fire. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

11/21

An air drop of fire retardant helped spare a home on Jackson Street. Hundreds of others nearby lay in ruins a day after the Boles fire swept through the area. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

12/21

Kathy Besk, left, cries with her daughter Shelley Besk as they stand in the burned-out ruins of their home in Weed, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

13/21

A section of a structure stands over the remains of a destroyed business in Weed, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

14/21

A cyclist stops to take a picture of the remains of destroyed homes in Weed, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

15/21

Firefighters hose down the smoldering remains of a home in Weed, Calif., on Tuesday. (Jeff Barnard / Associated Press)

16/21

The sun rises over Mt. Shasta on Tuesday, illuminating the remains of a house burned in a wind-driven wildfire in Weed, Calif. (Jeff Barnard / Associated Press)

17/21

A firefighter hoses down smoking rubble inside the foundation of a home destroyed by a wildfire in Weed, Calif. (Jeff Barnard / Associated Press)

18/21

A bathtub is seen painted pink with fire retardant in the rubble of a home destroyed by a wildfire in Weed, Calif. (Jeff Barnard / Associated Press)

19/21

Apples hang on a tree next to a home destroyed by a wind-driven wildfire in Weed, Calif. (Jeff Barnard / Associated Press)

20/21

Firefighters work to put out fires and protect structures along Center Street in Weed, Calif. The Boles fire raced through the small town near the Oregon border, damaging or destroying 100 homes and prompting evacuation orders for at least 1,500 people, authorities said. (Greg Barnette / Associated Press)

21/21

The Boles fire burns along a ridge in Weed, Calif. (Greg Barnette / Associated Press)

By Veronica Rocha

Sept. 16, 2014 10:35 AM PT

Several destructive, fast-moving wildfires that have erupted in Northern California in recent days continue to rage, burning dozens of homes and forcing hundreds of residents to flee.

One of the most destructive, the 375-acre Boles fire, has burned more than 150 buildings in a small logging town and was 20% contained, officials reported Tuesday.

The fire erupted shortly before 1:40 p.m. Monday just south of the town of Weed not far from the Oregon border, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

More than 1,500 firefighters were able to control the front line of the fire, but strong winds were making conditions challenging for crews on the ground, Cal Fire spokeswoman Suzi Brady said.

In one instance, the winds carried embers over the containment line, sparking a hot spot, she said.

Evacuations were also ordered in nearby communities of Carrick and Lake Shastina.

At least three people have been injured, but no further details were immediately available.

Meanwhile, the King fire in the Eldorado National Forest grew significantly overnight, from 8,600 acres to 11,570 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The blaze, which is only 5% contained, started Saturday evening on Forebay Road in Pollock Pines, where it was consuming heavy timber in steep terrain.

More than 1,500 firefighters have established containment lines along portions of the fire to protect homes and wildlife.

Mandatory evacuations orders were issued for residents east of Forebay Road from King of the Mountain Road to the Pony Express Trail.

The 320-acre Courtney fire, which started Sunday in Madera County, is 40% contained but has destroyed 33 homes and damaged four others.

An additional 28 outbuildings and 17 vehicles were destroyed.

Although firefighters have been able to keep the fire from spreading, access has been challenging. The Courtney fire continues to pose a threat to the community of Bass Lake Heights, where about 600 residents have been ordered to evacuate.

For breaking news in Los Angeles and throughout California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA. She can be reached at veronica.rocha@latimes.com.

Northern California wildfires continue to rage, burn homes

More to Read

More From the Los Angeles Times