Northern California wildfire still growing

POLLOCK PINES, Calif. — An expanding wildfire in Northern California has reached 82,018 acres, or more than 128 square miles, as of Sunday morning, California fire officials said.

The fire, which began Sept. 13, about 60 miles east of Sacramento, Calif., is 10% contained.

Overnight, the fire grew by just 74 acres, the slowest growth of the week. Fire officials reported that increased humidity Saturday night helped to moderate the fire's activity.

Smoky conditions from the fire also forced the last-minute cancellation of two popular Ironman events in nearby Lake Tahoe Sunday morning, Ironman operations manager Keats McGonigal said. About 3,000 athletes from around the world were expected to participate, but couldn't due to poor air quality as the fire spread to the Tahoe National Forest northwest of Lake Tahoe over the weekend.

According to preliminary figures, 10 residences and 22 outbuildings were lost in the King Fire as the structures were discovered in the White Meadows area of Pollock Pines, said Capt. Tom Piranio, a spokesman with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Assessment teams were headed back in the rugged, steep terrain to survey more damage, he said.

"It has been very challenging to get access to those burn areas because there's a lot of inaccessible terrain," Piranio said. "We had to make sure it was safe enough to enter."

Wayne Allen Huntsman, 37, a former Santa Cruz, Calif., resident who now lives here, was arrested Wednesday and is in the El Dorado County Jail in Placerville, Calif., charged with felony arson. He was arraigned Friday and pleaded not guilty in El Dorado County Superior Court.

His bail remains at $10 million, and his next court hearing is Oct. 28.

Cal Fire reported 12,000 homes and 9,000 minor structures are threatened by the fire. According to the U.S. Forest Service, 2,819 people have been evacuated from the area where the wildfire is burning. About 100 people were allowed back in the Pollock Pines area by Saturday night.

More than 5,000 firefighters — from as far as Florida and Alaska — are helping California crews battle the blaze that has not only consumed grass and brush, but swaths of extremely dry tall timber.

Meanwhile, a wildfire in the town of Weed near the Oregon border was fully contained Saturday after burning 479 acres and destroying 143 homes. Another wildfire that destroyed 37 homes near Yosemite National Park was 93% contained.

Contributing: The Associated Press