NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. (KNX) — A wildfire burning in Northern California is forcing evacuations and threatening more than 500 homes and buildings.
The Rices Fire erupted around 2 p.m. Tuesday near the Yuba River in Nevada County and had grown to over an acre by the time first responders arrived at the scene about 10 minutes later, The Union reported. By nightfall, the fire had spread to more than 500 acres.
As of Wednesday morning, Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit says the fire has grown to 769 acres with multiple spot fires and 0% containment. The agency expects to have full containment of the fire by Friday, July 1.
About 520 structures are threatened by the fire and at least four structures have been destroyed, though those numbers are likely to change as assessments are still ongoing, Cal Fire said Wednesday. No civilian injuries have been reported; one firefighter was injured.
"Steep and rugged terrain, critically dry and receptive fuel beds, active area for fire history and drought stressed trees are leading to the observed active fire behavior," Cal Fire wrote in a report.
The blaze is believed to have started as a structure fire and rapidly extended to dry vegetation. A cause of the fire is still unknown.
The communities of Birchville, Sweetland, French Corral, Bridgeport, Rice's Crossing and the Buttermilk area are all under evacuation orders. Several other communities are under evacuation warnings, and those residents should be ready to leave their homes at a moment's notice.
Around 700 firefighters are currently working on the ground and by air to suppress the fire, ABC10 reported.
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