Fire Blackens 6,200 Acres Near Oroville

A fire has burned about 6,200 acres in the Plumas National Forest about 35 miles northeast of Oroville in northeastern California, and authorities have no estimate on when they expect to contain it.

The fire threatens part of the Pacific Crest Trail, has forced authorities to close portions of California 70 and has moved into Lassen National Forest. The Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Canada to Mexico, was closed between the tiny town of Belden and the Humboldt Summit ridge. The area is about 180 miles northeast of San Francisco.

No homes or other buildings were immediately threatened by the blaze in the rugged Feather River Canyon.

Almost 1,000 people were helping battle the fire, which spewed embers that traveled a mile and a half and caused a spot fire that was still burning.

Two firefighters were injured by falling rocks Thursday, including one who was treated and then released from Plumas District Hospital in Quincy after he was hit on the head. The other firefighter was hit on the arm. Two more firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion.

The steep, roadless terrain coupled with hot, dry, windy conditions made fighting the fire extremely difficult and allowed the fire to grow quickly and unpredictably, said Plumas National Forest spokesman Fred Krueger.

The fire was first reported Thursday afternoon after burning about 20 acres on a steep slope near the small resort community of Storrie. The community itself was not threatened. No cause for the fire had been determined.