Western Wildfires: Firefighters Injured Battling California Fire; Man Arrested in Connection to Sacramento Area Wildfire

Associated Press
Published: July 28,2015

Nevada County Fire Quickly Burns Thousands Of Acres

CBS Sacramento

Several large wildfires are burning across the parched West, including a blaze in California that has injured multiple firefighters.
A fast-moving wildfire that began Saturday afternoon has injured four people and burned through more than 2,200 acres acres in Northern California, according to Cal Fire. The fire threatens 1,800 structures in Nevada and Placer counties.
Three firefighters and a U.S. Forest Service member were injured battling the inferno, CalFire spokesperson Daniel Berlant told KTXL-TV. Three of the four injured were expected to be treated and released, while a fourth has serious but non-life threatening injuries, Berlant said.
The fire crew's position was overrun by flames, burning their engine, the French Camp McKinley Fire District told local media.
(MORE: Evacuations Ordered in Pasco County, Florida)
Still, steep terrain and general inaccessibility are hindering firefighting efforts. The fire was 30 percent contained as of Tuesday.
Nick Wiltgen, weather.com senior meteorologist, said that current/forecast conditions are "marginally favorable for the spread of wildfires," but that conditions will get much less favorable in the coming days should firefighters fail to gain control of the fire.
"After Monday it's expected to get much hotter Tuesday through the end of the week with highs well into the 90s at the site of the fire, which is close to 3,000 feet above sea level," said Wiltgen. An evacuation center has been established in Grass Valley, California.
More than 2,000 firefighting personnel are attending to the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Here's an update on a few other large wildfires currently burning across the West.

Napa Valley, California

Tuesday was a frustrating day as the Wragg Fire, about 45 miles east of wine country, picked up steam again and forced a new round of evacuations.
Cal fire ordered families in Mix Canyon, and along Sky Ranch Road and Blue Ridge Road to leave their homes. The evacuation orders impacted about 200 people.
The fire, which started July 22 in the drought-parched countryside near Lake Berryessa, has scorched more than 6,500 acres and was 80 percent contained.

Sacramento County, California 

A wildfire that burned through Sacramento County destroyed one home, six cars and a tractor Monday, according to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

Crews worked to clean up the scene overnight, and the fire has been completely contained.
David Petrashishen, 25, was arrested in connection to the fire, KCRA.com reported. He is suspected of starting the fire that charred 430 acres near Elverta.

Glacier National Park, Montana

Evacuation levels in Montana's Glacier National Park are being downgraded as the weather improves and more firefighters arrive to battle the blaze.
Cooler, wet weather was helping some 690 firefighters now on hand to battle the blaze that has burned more than 3,000 acres of land. The fire is now 45 percent contained.
Glacier National Park is still encouraging people to come and visit, even with the closure of 18 miles of Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Evacuation orders have been lifted for National Park Service employee housing and administrative areas.

San Diego County, California

A small wildfire that chewed through dry timber in the Cleveland National Forest was 20 percent contained Sunday. The 167-acre blaze, which broke out Friday, was not threatening structures, but it briefly forced the closure of the Palomar Observatory on Saturday. The cause is under investigation.
MORE: Glacier National Park Fire - July 2015