By Umar Farooq
Washington(AA) – A wildfire in California has become the seventh most destructive in state history, authorities said Tuesday.
The Carr fire has continued to grow with no end in sight as it burns through the northern area of the state.
It has left behind a devastating path with more than 1,000 structures destroyed, including 884 homes wiped out, along with 169 that have been damaged.
Six people have died in the fires, including a firefighter, a grandmother and her two young grandchildren.
The fire is now more than 110,000 acres — nearly two-and-a-half times the size of Washington DC.
The tide may be turning in the battle against the blaze, however, as containment is up to 27 percent as of Monday morning.
Firefighters are working tirelessly to contain the fire, some working as much as 48-hour shifts, said Deputy Chief of California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (Cal Fire) Bret Gouvea.
There are 16 major fires currently in the state but many are nearly contained. The Cranston fire in southern California is 82 percent contained, while the Steele fire near San Francisco is at 90 percent.
Repopulation notices have been ordered by authorities in residential areas in Shasta County, which were in danger of being engulfed by the Carr fire.
Forecasts are for temperatures to remain near 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) through the end of the week as firefighters continue to set up containment lines to stop the growth of the fire.
