Wildfire continues to burn in Northern California

More than 1,200 firefighters in Northern California continue to battle a 6,700-acre wildfire that broke out Wednesday morning in Tehama County, authorities said.

About 20% of the Panther fire, eight miles northwest of Butte Meadows, was contained Saturday, fire officials saiad. It’s burning in a largely rural Ishi Wilderness area, but acres of privately owned timberland are at risk.

“One of our big concerns up north is we continue to have pretty gusty winds,” said Daniel Berlant, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman. “The potential for some lightning and gusty winds has heightened this afternoon.”

Firefighters have been establishing containment lines since Wednesday, Berlant said. If the containments hold through the passing storm system, officials are expecting the fire to be contained within days.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. “The conditions are so strong across California,” Berlant said. “You add just a little wind to it, these fires start so quickly.”

Elsewhere in Northern California, hundreds of firefighters have contained large blazes this week, including a 125-acre blaze in Sonoma County and a 217-acre blaze in Glenn County.

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