According to firefighting officials, the fire destroyed more than 346 sq miles (896 km) of Sierra Nevada and burned hundreds upon homes.
This week, storms covered the western side the fire with snow. Rain fell on the eastern side. Stronger storms are likely throughout the week. Authorities said that the fire will continue to smolder well into winter.
It was reported that the fire destroyed more than 1,000 structures, including more than 700 homes, as it moved towards South Lake Tahoe, a tourist destination. South Lake Tahoe was not affected. Many of the homes destroyed were located in the small, rustic community of Grizzly flat.
The Dixie Fire, which was burning in California’s northern Sierra Nevada mountain ranges and southern Cascades mountain ranges as of Wednesday evening, was 97% contained.
The wildfire, which raged over 1,505 miles (3.898 kilometers) and destroyed more than 1,300 structures, including 700 homes, was the second largest in California’s recorded history. It was created by two fires that occurred July 13 and 22 and then merged into one.
Wildfires are becoming more difficult to combat because of the drought in the West, which is linked to climate change. Scientists believe that climate change has made West more hot and dry over the past 30 year and that it will continue to cause extreme weather and more wildfires.
