California's Dixie Fire explodes to 'megafire' status as western wildfires continue to rage
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY
Fri, July 23, 2021, 1:07 PM·2 min read
California's huge Dixie Fire exploded to "megafire" status late Thursday, forcing more mandatory evacuations in nearby communities, fire officials said Friday.
At more than 221 square miles in size, it's now the largest wildfire in California.
"The Dixie Fire is burning in a remote area with limited access, and extended travel times in steep terrain are hampering control efforts," Cal Fire said in a statement. The "fire will continue to rapidly expand, causing a need for the critical resources to control and manage the incident."
Shannon Prather, the incident commander for the Dixie Fire, said Thursday evening that "this fire is outpacing us at moments."
It is the second megafire in the state this year. A blaze becomes a megafire when it surpasses 100,000 acres, which is about 156 square miles. Days ago, the 105,000-acre Sugar Fire in Butte County garnered the designation, KTLA-TV said.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/californias-dixie-fire-explodes-megafire-164336011.html
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Prayers to the Firefighters and CCC Firecrews working literally around the clock to cut the lines, etc...
My son just finished his COMET training in the CCC and is on his first assignment. He will ba taking fire training fot he month of August. Dangerous and greuling work...these folks deserve HUGE KUDOS!!!
Prayers for safety for all the people and animals in harm's way 
(Im near the Tamarack fire in CA/NV Sierras, it just exploded yesterday, hopefully the winds are better today and they have more tankers coming in)
Best to your dear son too. 
Foresthill area in the lower Sierras NE of Auburn, and I'm now watching the fire reports nearly every day to check her area.
"The Dixie Fire is in a remote area with limited access." But the headline at least mentions California. Good old eastern media. When we lived in CA, they usually only mentioned fires that might blow smoke to or conceivably threaten the outskirts of Bel Air or Malibu. 
