In Northern California, a sprawling wildfire puts nearly 1,000 structures at risk

Yolo County Fire (Getty)

A 70,000-acre wildfire in Yolo County in Northern California has put nearly 1,000 homes and businesses at risk, according to the authorities.

The fire is only 5 percent contained and is burning near Lake Berryessa, just east of Sacramento, the Los Angeles Times reported. It’s being fueled by steep terrain and dry grounds, heightened by the summer heat.

Residents in Yolo County remain under evacuation orders.

A 15,000-acre wildfire is also blazing in Lake County, which is part of California’s Wine Country. The Pawnee fire, which started June 23 and is roughly 80 percent contained, grew by 100 acres Tuesday morning.

So far, the Pawnee fire has destroyed 22 structures. Half of those were homes.

Locally, an upcoming heat wave has spurred concerns of a possible blaze in Southern California. Temperatures are expected to rise to over 110 degrees in the valleys, and reach the upper-90s in Santa Monica.

Los Angeles is still reeling from the December fires, when the Skirball wildfire destroyed six homes in Bel Air and damaged 12 other structures. That paled in comparison to the Thomas fire, a 281,900-acre fire that killed more than 40 people and destroyed over 10,000 homes across Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. [LAT] – Natalie Hoberman