Western Wildfires: Firefighter Killed Battling Sierra Fire in Lake Tahoe Area; Residents Affected by California's Largest Blaze Return Home

The Associated Press
Published: August 7,2015

Dozens of wildfires burning in the West proved fatal yet again when a firefighter was killed in the Lake Tahoe area Saturday while battling the Sierra Fire.
The firefighter died when a tree was felled on him around 5:30 p.m., the U.S. Forest Service said. Another firefighter was injured in the incident and was transported to a local hospital.
In Northern California, evacuation orders were lifted for 1,200 residents forced to flee their homes as the massive Rocky Fire swept through the area.
(MORE: Why You Need a Severe Weather Plan for Outdoor Events)
On July 30, a firefighter was killed by a wildfire in the Modoc National Forest while he scouted the area for ways to fight the blaze. U.S. Forest Service firefighter David Ruhl, of Rapid City, South Dakota, had been on temporary assignment since June in California, where he was an assistant fire management officer for the Big Valley Ranger District.

The charred remains of a property is shown near Clearlake, California, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. Crews backed by important firefighting resources are gaining ground against a massive Northern California wildfire, but it may be several days before thousands of evacuees can return home, officials said Thursday. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

More than 10,000 firefighters have been dispatched to fight 18 wildfires currently burning in drought-stricken California.
The largest blaze statewide is burning in Lake, Yolo and Colusa counties and prompted the evacuations of hundreds of residents. The wildfire 100 miles north of San Francisco has destroyed 43 residences, 53 outbuildings and eight other structures.
The fire, which has charred more than 107 square miles since igniting July 29, was 70 percent contained Sunday and was expected to be fully contained by Thursday, Cal Fire said.
In Central California, a wildfire was expanding in the Tulare County portion of the Sequoia National Forest.
The Forest Service said the blaze has consumed 2 square miles and posed no threat to any structures by Sunday morning. However, the wildfire, which began with a lightning strike July 31, could be a major threat to the giant sequoias - the largest trees on Earth - as well as Hume Lake Christian Camp and the surrounding areas if it crosses the Kings River to the south. This spread would also close public access to Kings Canyon National Park.
About 300 firefighters are focusing their efforts on keeping the wildfire north of the river, Forest Service spokeswoman Linda Hecker told the Fresno Bee.
Hecker said the fire crews are using helicopters to drop water from Hume Lake onto the fire's southern flank in order to keep it from advancing to the Kings River.