Northern California’s raging Dixie fire, the largest wildfire burning in the US, could be spread further and faster by potential thunderstorms, officials warned on Thursday.
The possibility of strong winds of up to 40mph and the chance of lightning threatened to swell the huge blaze and potentially spark new fires.
The Dixie fire, which has become one of the most destructive in California history, has all but leveled the town of Greenville and is still threatening a dozen small towns in the Sierra Nevada, even though its southern end was mostly corralled by fire lines. It has burned more than 790 sq miles (2,046 sq km) and has destroyed more than 1,000 structures since erupting in mid-July. It is 30% contained.
Meteorologist Joe Goudsward said on Thursday morning: “Today we are looking at a change in the pattern. The high pressure is still going to be over us, but we’ve gotten mid-level moisture that we have gone in and put in some thunderstorms into the forecast. We’re warm, we’re dry, we’re unstable. It could be an active afternoon.”
The fire is one of 11 burning across California. Its cause remains under investigation. The utility Pacific Gas & Electric has said the blaze may have been sparked when a tree fell on one of its power lines.
A red flag warning, Cal Fire’s highest alert, was in effect for northern California between Friday afternoon and late Friday evening, because of potential dry lightning. Cal Fire said: “During these times extreme caution is urged by all residents, because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire.”
Meanwhile, a judge on Wednesday denied bail to a former professor from California who authorities accuse of starting the smaller Ranch fire in Lassen county. The man denies setting the fire, according to court documents.
