By Matthew Impelli
Life & Trends Reporter
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California's Dixie Fire has grown to over 800,000 acres, and officials expect "extreme fire behavior" to continue over the next several days.
According to an update from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the blaze has burned 807,369 acres as of Tuesday morning and is currently 48 percent contained.
The Dixie Fire was first reported on July 14 and has continued to expand, currently spanning the four counties of Butte, Plumas, Lassen and Tehama. Last Friday, officials said that the Dixie Fire burned at least 749,713 acres and has been 45 percent contained.
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In an update on Monday, Cal Fire officials working to contain the Dixie Fire said that "firefighters continue to aggressively fight active fire, as winds increase into the beginning of the week, bringing red flag conditions in some areas, and extreme fire behavior is expected."
"Firefighters continue to patrol fire lines, reinforce primary control lines, and establish secondary and contingency lines. Fire continues to burn in steep and rugged terrain," the update added.
On Tuesday, CAL FIRE officials said that "this critical fire weather pattern is predicted to continue, with Red Flag warnings in effect due to gusty southwest winds and very low, single digit, relative humidity."
Officials issued a similar update for the Dixie Fire's East Zone on Tuesday, saying that "low relative humidity and Red Flag warnings will resume this morning and is forecasted to continue through this evening."
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Sacramento, California, also warned that "critical fire weather condition" is expected to continue again Tuesday.
According to CAL FIRE, the Dixie Fire has damaged at least 92 residential, commercial and other structures—while 1,277 structures have already been destroyed.
Numerous photos and videos of the Dixie Fire have been posted across social media, as it has continued to grow over the past 48 days.
"A 'fire whirl' formed in front of firefighters battling California's Dixie Fire," USA Today wrote in a tweet, sharing an image.
NorCal Air Operations Twitter account posted a video of smoke from the Dixie Fire and said that the conflagration is now larger than the state of Rhode Island.
"Fire personnel will be challenged in the coming days with gusty southwest winds up to 60 mph in some areas and single digit humidity," the tweet read.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there are currently 12 other active wildfires in California, in addition to the Dixie Fire. The Caldor, McFarland and Monument fires have all burned over 100,000 acres.
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