Fires

See photos of Dixie and River wildfires’ devastation in Northern California

The Sacramento Bee

Cal Fire says the raging Dixie Fire, which swept through a tiny Northern California mountain town on Wednesday evening, is now the sixth-largest in state history.

The 3-week-old Dixie Fire had blackened territory bigger than the city of Los Angeles by Thursday, stretching over 504 square miles.

It had already burned dozens of homes before it made a new run Wednesday evening, tearing through the historic town of Greenville.

The images from the fire are gut-wretching, showing how much the town of about 1,000 residents was affected. Images also show the escape made by residents of Chester on the other side of Lake Almanor.

Closer to Sacramento, the River Fire has burned at least 50 homes in near Colfax in Placer and Nevada counties. Photos show how firefighters worked fast and aggressively to keep the fire from laying siege to homes in the Sierra foothills.

Greenville after the Dixie Fire

A bench stands outside a scorched building as the Dixie Fire tears through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A bench stands outside a scorched building as the Dixie Fire tears through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Noah Berger AP
Operations Chief Jay Walter passes the historic Sierra Lodge as the Dixie Fire burns through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Operations Chief Jay Walter passes the historic Sierra Lodge as the Dixie Fire burns through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Noah Berger AP
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The Way Station bar burns as the Dixie Fire tears through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
The Way Station bar burns as the Dixie Fire tears through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Noah Berger AP
A street sign stands in central Greenville as the Dixie Fire tears through Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in the community. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A street sign stands in central Greenville as the Dixie Fire tears through Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in the community. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Noah Berger AP
A firefighter battles the Dixie Fire as it tears through the Greenville community in Plumas County, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A firefighter battles the Dixie Fire as it tears through the Greenville community in Plumas County, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Noah Berger AP
A utility pole burns as the Dixie Fire tears through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A utility pole burns as the Dixie Fire tears through the Greenville community of Plumas County, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The fire leveled multiple historic buildings and dozens of homes in central Greenville. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Noah Berger AP
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A fawn calls for its mother on Main Street Greenville on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, after the Dixie Fire burned the town on Wednesday.
A fawn calls for its mother on Main Street Greenville on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, after the Dixie Fire burned the town on Wednesday. Nathaniel Levine nlevine@sacbee.com
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Ghostly outlines remain from the letters of the Greenville highway sign on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, after the Dixie Fire burned the town on Wednesday.
Ghostly outlines remain from the letters of the Greenville highway sign on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, after the Dixie Fire burned the town on Wednesday. Nathaniel Levine nlevine@sacbee.com
A home burns on Highway 89 south of Greenville near Forgay Road during the Dixie Fire on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.
A home burns on Highway 89 south of Greenville near Forgay Road during the Dixie Fire on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Nathaniel Levine nlevine@sacbee.com

Dixie Fire bears down on Chester

River Fire’s destruction near Colfax

A melted car stands on the rubble of a burned down home during the River Fire on Mount Olive Road in Chicago Park on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.
A melted car stands on the rubble of a burned down home during the River Fire on Mount Olive Road in Chicago Park on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Daniel Kim dkim@sacbee.com
Rubble from a home lay on the ground during the River Fire on Mount Olive Road in Chicago Park on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.
Rubble from a home lay on the ground during the River Fire on Mount Olive Road in Chicago Park on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Daniel Kim dkim@sacbee.com
A set of melted cars stand on the rubble of a burned down home during the River Fire on Mount Olive Road in Chicago Park on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.
A set of melted cars stand on the rubble of a burned down home during the River Fire on Mount Olive Road in Chicago Park on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Daniel Kim dkim@sacbee.com
A set of melted cars stand on the rubble of a burned down home during the River Fire on Mount Olive Road in Chicago Park on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.
A set of melted cars stand on the rubble of a burned down home during the River Fire on Mount Olive Road in Chicago Park on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Daniel Kim dkim@sacbee.com
A near empty pool stands after being burned in the River Fire on Mount Olive Road in Chicago Park on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.
A near empty pool stands after being burned in the River Fire on Mount Olive Road in Chicago Park on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Daniel Kim dkim@sacbee.com
A fire burns at the remnants of a house during the River Fire on Mount Olive Road in Chicago Park on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.
A fire burns at the remnants of a house during the River Fire on Mount Olive Road in Chicago Park on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Daniel Kim dkim@sacbee.com
Ophir Hill volunteer firefighter Brian Harms works with a chainsaw to clear fuel from alongside Highway 174 while fighting the River Fire on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County.
Ophir Hill volunteer firefighter Brian Harms works with a chainsaw to clear fuel from alongside Highway 174 while fighting the River Fire on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
Cal Fire personnel try to contain the River Fire as it burns off Tokayana Way east of Bear River Park and Campground near Colfax on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Placer County.
Cal Fire personnel try to contain the River Fire as it burns off Tokayana Way east of Bear River Park and Campground near Colfax on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Placer County. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
Ophir Hill volunteer firefighter Brian Harms works with a chainsaw to clear fuel from alongside Highway 174 while fighting the River Fire on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County.
Ophir Hill volunteer firefighter Brian Harms works with a chainsaw to clear fuel from alongside Highway 174 while fighting the River Fire on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
A backyard in the Chicago Park area west of Colfax, California, is seen burned by the River Fire, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.
A backyard in the Chicago Park area west of Colfax, California, is seen burned by the River Fire, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Sam Stanton sstanton@sacbee.com
A man quickly leaves after checking the situation of a fully involved house burning on the 16000 block of Mount Olive Road during the River Fire on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County.
A man quickly leaves after checking the situation of a fully involved house burning on the 16000 block of Mount Olive Road during the River Fire on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
The River Fire burns a property off Highway 174 on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada and Placer counties.
The River Fire burns a property off Highway 174 on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada and Placer counties. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
The River Fire burns property and homes Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Chicago Park, Nevada County
The River Fire burns property and homes Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Chicago Park, Nevada County Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
The River Fire burns a car off Mount Olive Road on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County.
The River Fire burns a car off Mount Olive Road on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
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Personnel with the Tahoe Hotshots Region 5, U. S. Forest Service, try to save property off Mount Olive Road as the River Fire burns Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County.
Personnel with the Tahoe Hotshots Region 5, U. S. Forest Service, try to save property off Mount Olive Road as the River Fire burns Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
A fully involved house burns on the 16000 block of Mount Olive Road during the River Fire on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County.
A fully involved house burns on the 16000 block of Mount Olive Road during the River Fire on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
A fully involved house burns on the 16000 block of Mount Olive Road during the River Fire on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County.
A fully involved house burns on the 16000 block of Mount Olive Road during the River Fire on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
The River Fire burns at a business and property on the 16000 block of Mount Olive Road on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County.
The River Fire burns at a business and property on the 16000 block of Mount Olive Road on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Nevada County. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com

This story was originally published August 5, 2021 at 11:35 AM.

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