Containment of the Rocky Fire goes up, but so does the size
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. (KTVU) - The Rocky Fire grew several acres, but containment also went up Saturday morning, Cal Fire announced.
The official size of the state's largest active fire rose from 69,600 acres to 69,636 acres, officials said.
Containment also increased, from 50% to 62% Saturday morning.
Cal Fire had hoped to fully contain the fire by Monday, August 10. But officials have pushed back the date to at least August 13.
"We're still not out of this thing yet," Cal Fire Chief Sean Kavanaugh told a group of residents that had gathered for a community meeting at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport. "We're working hard to get this fire contained to get everybody back into their homes."
On Monday, Lake County will open its Local Assistance Center to help those impacted by the fire get access to aid that will help them rebuild.
The fire has destroyed 43 residences and 53 outbuildings, Cal Fire said. More than 6,500 structures are still being threatened.
"There's a few smoking logs," said one Cal Fire crew member from King City.
"Taking care of it slowly." Chief Jess Thompson said his crew went from the Wragg Fire in Napa County, to the Rocky Fire. They've been on the road for nearly two weeks. "The quicker we can put it out, the quicker we can make the equipment available to go to a different fire, different incident," Thompson explained.
Governor Jerry Brown met with firefighters battling the Rocky Fire.
He said the fire's erratic behavior was "a wake-up call" the drought has changed the game. "We're in an extreme weather event," Governor Brown warned. "If the drought will continue, California will burn up."