Crews fight to contain massive King fire amid steady winds

Thousands of firefighters from across the U.S. continue to battle the enormous King fire in Northern California that has now burned nearly 93,000 acres.

Low humidity and high winds have kept the wildfire, which is just 38% contained, moving through Eldorado National Forest, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Firefighters have been arriving daily from as far away as Alaska and Florida to help contain the blaze, which so far has destroyed 10 homes and 22 other structures. More than 7,000 fire personnel are now assigned to the fire.

Firefighters were able to maintain containment lines amid strong winds Tuesday, but they will be challenged again Wednesday as red-flag weather conditions persist. Wind gusts could top 35 mph, according to the Forest Service.

On-site meteorologists and fire behavior experts will monitor fire activity so officials can adjust operations to meet any high-risk needs, said Ryan Lubben, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Officials plan to lean on aircraft dropping water and fire retardant to help slow the spread of the blaze as 21,000 structures, including 12,000 homes, remain threatened. Hundreds of thousands of fire retardant have been dropped so far on the blaze, including 210,000 gallons on a single day last week.

“There is still quite a bit of work to be done,” Lubben said.

Some residents were allowed to return home Wednesday, but 2,830 mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect.

Authorities have said the fire was intentionally started Sept. 13 by Pollock Pines resident Wayne Huntsman, 37, who has been charged with arson. He is being held in lieu of $10-million bail.

In the early stages, firefighters had trouble reaching the blaze, which was burning in a steep, rugged canyon of the South Fork of the American River just north of Pollock Pines.

Officials have not elaborated on how they believe the fire was started.

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