King fire burns more than 80,000 acres in Northern California

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Firefighters mop up hot spots in an area burned by the King fire on Sept. 19 near Pollock Pines, Calif. The King fire is threatening more than 12,000 homes in the forested area about an hour east of Sacramento. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Wayne Allen Huntsman, right, appears in El Dorado County Superior Court with Public Defender William Dittman on charges related to the King fire. Huntsman pleaded not guilty to an arson charge. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

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A burned-out truck sits in front of a structure that was destroyed by the King fire on Sept. 19 near Pollock Pines, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Herve Leconte sits atop his vehicle alongside Highway 50 near Camino, Calif., on Sept. 18, displaying a sign thanking all those who are dealing with the King fire. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

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A crew burns away dry brush along U.S. Highay 50 near Pollock Pines, Calif. (Alvin Jornada / EPA)

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Smoke billows from a canyon next to U.S. Highway 50, where firefighters were creating a fire break. (Alvin Jornada / EPA)

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A weary firefighter stares into the flames during a 24-hour shift near Pollock Pines, Calif. (Alvin Jornada / EPA)

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Firefighters monitor the King fire as it burns through brush in Fresh Pond, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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A firefighter monitors a backfire as he battles the King fire in Fresh Pond, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Firefighters use drip torches to set a controlled burn to create a safe zone around homes close to the King fire near Pollock Pines, Calif. (Alvin Jornada / EPA)

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A firefighting helicopter collects water from a reservoir to fight the King fire in Pollock Pines, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Firefighters set a controlled burn to rob fuel from the King fire near Pollock Pines, Calif. (Alvin Jornada / EPA)

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A firefighter monitors the King Fire as it burns through brush. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Flames from the King fire consume trees in Fresh Pond, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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A firefighter monitors the King fire. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Angela Warden, left, and her daughter Brianna hang signs on a tree thanking firefighters for battling the King fire. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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A firefighter is shrouded in smoke as he battles the King fire near Fresh Pond, Calif., on Wednesday. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

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Smoke rises from trees burned by the King fire on Wednesday in Pollock Pines, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Firefighters monitor the King fire on Wednesday in Pollock Pines, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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An air tanker drops fire retardant on a hillside ahead of the King fire Wednesday in Pollock Pines, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Firefighters battle flames from the King fire near Fresh Pond, Calif., on Wednesday. The blaze that started Sunday has consumed more than 18,000 acres and is only 5% contained. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

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Smoke and flames loom up over the King Fire in the Eldorado National Forest. (Brendan Rice / AP)

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Firefighter Jesse Hadorowski climbs up steep terrain while battling the King fire near Pollock Pines, Calif.. on Sept. 15. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

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Smoke from the King fire rises into the sky near Pollock Pines, Calif., on Sept. 15. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

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Firefighters hose down hot spots of the King fire near Pollock Pines, Calif., on Sept. 15. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

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An aerial tanker drops fire retardant on the King fire near Pollock Pines, Calif., on Sept. 15. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

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A helicopter refills its tanks with water to battle the King fire near Pollock Pines, Calif., on Sept. 15. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

By Los Angeles Times staff

Sept. 20, 2014 8:33 AM PT

The massive King fire in Northern California has now burned more than 80,000 acres, according to CalFire.

The fire, in the forest east of Sacramento, has forced the evacuation of more than 2,800 people since it ignited last Saturday. It is now 10% contained.

Wayne Huntsman, 37, was arrested this week on suspicion of deliberately setting the King fire and was being held in lieu of $10-million bail.

More than 7,600 firefighters continue to battle nine major wildfires in California, most of them in the northern part of the state.

But officials consider the King fire the most dangerous after it doubled in size overnight Wednesday to about 114 square miles, becoming California’s second largest wildfire this year in a matter of hours.

Officials attributed the fire’s rapid growth in El Dorado National Forest to extremely dry, dense vegetation. The forest also hasn’t seen a significant fire since 1992.

Cal Fire Unit Chief Mike Kaslin told reporters Thursday that firefighters were “literally setting a world record with respect to retardant drops” on the fire.

King fire burns more than 80,000 acres in Northern California

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