The Rices Fire that prompted evacuations in Nevada County has charred about 904 acres and burned at least one structure, Cal Fire officials said Monday morning in an incident update. People began returning to their homes Thursday evening. The blaze is 65% contained with an expectation of full containment to happen by Tuesday, Cal Fire said. Containment is not a measure of how much of the fire is extinguished but rather how much of a perimeter around the fire is established to prevent it from spreading. Cal Fire said Monday that 13 structures were destroyed in the blaze. The Rices Fire started around 2 p.m. Tuesday near Rice's Crossing Road just north of the south fork of the Yuba River Drainage. "A young lady came by and said, 'Hey, it's time to move. You've got to get out,'" said Stephen Burton, whose family has lived in the area for twenty years and is now evacuated due to the fire. He said Wednesday he didn't know what state his home would be in once he was allowed to return with his family and their animals. "I just try not to think about it. It's best not to," he said, preparing to spend a second night at a temporary evacuation site in Nevada City.Hundreds of personnel are working on both the ground and air to halt the spread of the fire, said Brian Estes, a spokesperson for Cal Fire. As of Thursday night, 13 firefighters have suffered heat-related injuries, officials said.There was concern that the fire could get to the north part of the Yuba River Drainage, which then poses the threat of going into Yuba County. | VIDEO PLAYER BELOW | Cal Fire gives Wednesday evening update on Rices Fire This started as a fully involved structure that extended into vegetation. Fire crews are investigating what caused the structure fire. Cal Fire said they know there are more structures destroyed, but that it's unclear how many at this point. Inspection teams will go out on Thursday morning to investigate how many structures have been destroyed. LiveCopter 3 spotted a home fully engulfed around 5:13 p.m. Tuesday. While earlier fires so far this season have burned in grassy vegetation, this one has been setting trees on fire, which the Northern California region has not seen so far this year. That typically does not happen until later in the summer, according to Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan.Around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, a tree fell in a burnt area of Nevada County near KCRA 3's Orko Manna while he was in the middle of a live hit.The community of Bridgeport is about 14 miles away from Nevada City. All evacuations and road closures have been lifted, Cal Fire officials said Monday. See all evacuation orders and warnings below. App users, click here. Sign up for emergency alerts in Nevada County here.Related Video Below | Wildfire smoke picked up on radar| RELATED | 2022 Northern California wildfire resources: Where to find county evacuation info, maps, alerts and moreHow to minimize fire riskAcross the region, green fields have been turning to brown as grasses dry out. Grass fires will have the chance to spread quickly in conditions if a fire breaks out.Firefighters are urging people to be careful and make sure they have defensible space around their property. People should avoid using power equipment during this period and make sure to remove any chains hanging off their cars.Cal Fire is also suspending burn permits for outdoor residential burning starting on Monday, May 23. This affects Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento and San Joaquin counties."We are experiencing drought conditions and extreme fire weather much earlier than usual for this time of year," Cal Fire's Amador-El Dorado division said. "Although debris burning is useful to reduce flammable vegetation, the conditions in the Amador-El Dorado Unit have reached the point where debris burning poses an unacceptable risk of starting a wildfire."KCRA's Fire Threat IndexKCRA 3’s weather team has developed a new tool the team will be using to keep you informed as fire conditions change. It’s called the Fire Threat Index. This will give you an idea of the fire risk on any given day in different areas of our coverage region so you can plan ahead.| MORE LIKE THIS | 2022 California Wildfire Preparedness Guide: What to know and how to stay safeLearn more about our fire threat index and other information to keep you and your loved ones safe by watching our “Wildfire Ready” special.
NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. — The Rices Fire that prompted evacuations in Nevada County has charred about 904 acres and burned at least one structure, Cal Fire officials said Monday morning in an incident update.
People began returning to their homes Thursday evening.
The blaze is 65% contained with an expectation of full containment to happen by Tuesday, Cal Fire said. Containment is not a measure of how much of the fire is extinguished but rather how much of a perimeter around the fire is established to prevent it from spreading.
Cal Fire said Monday that 13 structures were destroyed in the blaze.
The Rices Fire started around 2 p.m. Tuesday near Rice's Crossing Road just north of the south fork of the Yuba River Drainage.
"A young lady came by and said, 'Hey, it's time to move. You've got to get out,'" said Stephen Burton, whose family has lived in the area for twenty years and is now evacuated due to the fire.
He said Wednesday he didn't know what state his home would be in once he was allowed to return with his family and their animals.
"I just try not to think about it. It's best not to," he said, preparing to spend a second night at a temporary evacuation site in Nevada City.
Hundreds of personnel are working on both the ground and air to halt the spread of the fire, said Brian Estes, a spokesperson for Cal Fire. As of Thursday night, 13 firefighters have suffered heat-related injuries, officials said.
There was concern that the fire could get to the north part of the Yuba River Drainage, which then poses the threat of going into Yuba County.
| VIDEO PLAYER BELOW | Cal Fire gives Wednesday evening update on Rices Fire
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This started as a fully involved structure that extended into vegetation. Fire crews are investigating what caused the structure fire.
Cal Fire said they know there are more structures destroyed, but that it's unclear how many at this point. Inspection teams will go out on Thursday morning to investigate how many structures have been destroyed.
LiveCopter 3 spotted a home fully engulfed around 5:13 p.m. Tuesday.
While earlier fires so far this season have burned in grassy vegetation, this one has been setting trees on fire, which the Northern California region has not seen so far this year. That typically does not happen until later in the summer, according to Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan.
Around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, a tree fell in a burnt area of Nevada County near KCRA 3's Orko Manna while he was in the middle of a live hit.
The community of Bridgeport is about 14 miles away from Nevada City.
All evacuations and road closures have been lifted, Cal Fire officials said Monday.
See all evacuation orders and warnings below. App users, click here.
Sign up for emergency alerts in Nevada County here.
Related Video Below | Wildfire smoke picked up on radar
| RELATED | 2022 Northern California wildfire resources: Where to find county evacuation info, maps, alerts and more
How to minimize fire risk
Across the region, green fields have been turning to brown as grasses dry out. Grass fires will have the chance to spread quickly in conditions if a fire breaks out.
Firefighters are urging people to be careful and make sure they have defensible space around their property. People should avoid using power equipment during this period and make sure to remove any chains hanging off their cars.
Cal Fire is also suspending burn permits for outdoor residential burning starting on Monday, May 23. This affects Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento and San Joaquin counties.
"We are experiencing drought conditions and extreme fire weather much earlier than usual for this time of year," Cal Fire's Amador-El Dorado division said. "Although debris burning is useful to reduce flammable vegetation, the conditions in the Amador-El Dorado Unit have reached the point where debris burning poses an unacceptable risk of starting a wildfire."
KCRA's Fire Threat Index
KCRA 3’s weather team has developed a new tool the team will be using to keep you informed as fire conditions change. It’s called the Fire Threat Index. This will give you an idea of the fire risk on any given day in different areas of our coverage region so you can plan ahead.
| MORE LIKE THIS | 2022 California Wildfire Preparedness Guide: What to know and how to stay safe
Learn more about our fire threat index and other information to keep you and your loved ones safe by watching our “Wildfire Ready” special.