King Fire

King Fire

The King Fire as captured by NASA’s Aqua satellite on September 17.
Location Pollock Pines, California
Coordinates 38°46′55″N 120°36′14″W / 38.782°N 120.604°W / 38.782; -120.604Coordinates: 38°46′55″N 120°36′14″W / 38.782°N 120.604°W / 38.782; -120.604
Statistics
Cost Unknown
Date(s) September 13, 2014 (2014-09-13) – October 31, 2014 (2014-10-31)
Burned area 97,717 acres (39,545 ha)[1]
Cause Arson[2]
Buildings
destroyed		 12 single residences and 68 other structures[3]
Injuries At least 12
Fatalities None reported[4]

The King Fire, so named because it started off of King of the Mountain Road in Pollock Pines, was a wildfire that scorched over 97,000 acres of land in El Dorado County, California, in mid-September to mid-October 2014. The fire was ignited on September 13, 2014 near Pollock Pines, California, to the east of Sacramento.[1]

On September 16, it spread to 18 square miles and over five hundred homes were evacuated on that day.[5] A handcrew of 10 inmates and a Fire Captain were saved from being overrun when they were led to safety by a helicopter that was staged at the nearby Swansboro Country Airport.[6][7]

However, by September 18, the wildfire had expanded to 73,184 acres (29,617 ha), becoming the second largest wildfire of the 2014 California wildfire season, and it was only 5% contained, despite the deployment of thousands of firefighters.[4][8] As a result, the mandatory evacuation order was expanded to 20,000 homes.

On September 21, the King Fire expanded further to 82,018 acres (33,192 ha), while containment increased to 10%. Late on the same day, containment increased to 17%.[4] On September 22, the King Fire expanded to 87,592 acres (35,447 ha), with containment increasing to 18%.[1]

On September 23, the wildfire expanded to 89,574 acres (36,249 ha), with containment increasing to 35%.[1] During the next 2 weeks, the King Fire continued to expand to 97,099 acres (39,295 ha) by October 1, although the containment of the wildfire also increased to 94%.[4]

On October 5, the King Fire expanded further to 97,717 acres (39,545 ha), but containment also increased to 98%.[1]

On October 9, the perimeter of the King Fire was reported to be 100% contained, with no further increase in acreage.[1] However, the King Fire continued burning deep inside the containment lines during the next several days.[1]

On October 10, the closure area was reduced, as additional progress was made on extinguishing the wildfire.[1] During the next several days, the wildfire was diminished further, as the weather in the region entered a cooling trend. The King Fire injured a total of twelve people and caused the evacuation of nearly 3,000 people in the area.[9]

The King Fire has destroyed 12 singles residences and 68 other residential structures, but the amount of damage caused by the wildfire is currently unknown.

On September 18, 2014, Wayne Huntsman[10] was arrested on suspicion of intentionally starting the fire.[2] He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "King Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 Rocha, Veronica; Xia, Rosanna (18 September 2014). "Man arrested on suspicion of arson in out-of-control King fire". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "Giant King fire burns 10 homes, could be whipped up as weather shifts". Los Angeles Times. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "King Fire General Information". Cal Fire. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "King Fire in El Dorado County". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  6. ↑ Megna, Dan. "1600 Yards to Freedom" Vertical Magazine, 30 September 2014. Accessed: 2 October 2014.
  7. ↑ Megna, Dan (2015). "1600 Yards to Freedom". Vertical Magazine, Heli-Expo news. p. 46. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  8. ↑ Berman, Mark (19 September 2014). "Massive King fire in California continues to grow". Washington Post. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Massive King fire still rages, could be whipped up as weather changes". Los Angeles Times. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "King Fire arson suspect is former Santa Cruz man". Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "King Fire arson suspect pleads not guilty". 19 September 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
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