Madre Fire Becomes Largest Wildfire in California This Year

A fast-moving wildfire in Central California has become the largest in the state this year. The Madre Fire, burning roughly two hours north of Los Angeles, has scorched more than 70,000 acres as of Thursday evening.

Driven by gusty winds and steep terrain, the fire exploded in size over the past 24 hours. Aerial crews, including air tankers and helicopters, have been working to slow the spread, with at least one home saved by a timely water drop. Evacuations are underway in multiple communities threatened by the blaze.

Firefighters say the terrain is contributing to the fire’s rapid growth. “The steep drainages act like a chimney,” one fire official said. “Heat rises and ignites both sides of the hill quickly.”

Nationwide, there are currently 90 large wildfires burning across the United States, with 31 still uncontained. Most are located in the West. Over 7,300 firefighters and personnel are battling active wildfires this holiday week.

In Alaska, red flag warnings have led to evacuation orders near Fairbanks, where two wildfires remain at zero percent containment. Meanwhile, in Utah, crews are making progress on the Forsyth Fire, which has burned more than 13,000 acres but is now nearly contained.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.