Blown fuses on a Pacific Gas and Electric power line are being looked at a possible cause of the Dixie Fire burning in Butte and Plumas counties that has exploded in size to 40,500 acres as of Monday evening.
Meanwhile, new evacuations were underway in several rural communities as the blaze advanced in the rugged terrain near the Bucks Lake wilderness area.
During the Cal Fire’s Sunday evening briefing, the fire was at 18,702 acres. By Cal Fire’s latest update Monday evening, the burn zone had grown to 40,500 acres. The fire is 15% contained. On Monday, Cal Fire said the Dixie Fire was very active and produced a large smoke column. Firefighters constructed control lines to reinforce the perimeter and continued to aggressively fight the fire from both the air and ground.