An enormous wildfire in California continues to grow, threatening lives and property in El Dorado County. Firefighters have contained just 10% of the King Fire, which has burned 76,000 acres and threatened 12,000 homes since Sunday.
High temperatures, strong winds and decreased humidity could stoke the blaze further, Cal Fire, the state's department of forestry and fire protection, said in a statement Friday. The fire has already impaired air quality in Northern California and Nevada counties.
Bad Air Map from the #KingFire Dark=Very Unhealthy courtesy of @LauraSkirdeWx Tune-In at noon for latest #cbs13 pic.twitter.com/if81nVJCAd— Tony Lopez (@tlomedia) September 19, 2014
Also on Friday, the man who has been charged with deliberately setting the fire, Wayne Allen Huntsman, pled not guilty during his arraignment, according to FOX40 News. His bail was set at $10 million. He was arrested Wednesday.
Wayne Huntsman's arraignment lasted 1 min. Pleads Not guilty. Next court date 10/28. $10 mil bail #KingFire @FOX40 pic.twitter.com/LTEfkP6Zq7— Rina Nakano (@RinaNakanoTV) September 19, 2014
An NBC reporter has tweeted a mugshot of Huntsman from a 1996 arrest. A year later, he was convicted of grand theft, auto theft and assault with a weapon. His sentencing for the crimes was not immediately available. Huntsman is also wanted in Santa Cruz for a 2013 arrest for resisting a police officer.
This is the #king fire suspect's mug shot from 1996. Find out about his long rap sheet @ 11 #calfire #pollockpines pic.twitter.com/Yv8gMLz5LQ— Lisa Amin Gulezian (@LisaAminABC7) September 19, 2014
Huntsman's sister said she doesn't believe he started the fire.
"He's a really good guy," his sister Tami Criswell told The Associated Press. "He would never do anything intentionally to hurt anybody."
After allegedly starting the fire, Huntsman broke into a Pollock Pines home to call 911, News 10 reported.
"I can't understand what the guy was thinking," homeowner Ralf Lorenz told the news station, adding that Huntsman kicked in his door. Lorenz was at work in the Bay Area when the break-in happened. Nothing was taken from his home, which survived the fire.
Meanwhile, air quality in El Dorado County remains poor. Nevada's Washoe County's health department has rated its air as "unhealthy".
While smoke envelops the region, pictures of the inferno have filled social media. Highway 50 has reopened and some drivers have posted images of the smoky roads.
#KingFire view from Lake Tahoe pic.twitter.com/ADYSpY6lFs— Marie Jeselink (@Cowpatie) September 19, 2014
Jenkinson Lake. Friday, September 19, 2014. Smoke from the #KingFire with glass water. pic.twitter.com/9CNUWWDTtG— Shania (@shania_pence) September 19, 2014
Thick smoke on Highway 50 near Apple Hill. #KingFire pic.twitter.com/SJkYeqCWo8— David Bienick (@kcrabienick) September 19, 2014
California's historic drought and unusually warm temperatures are contributing to the fire's spread. The state is experiencing the worst drought since reliable records began in 1895, and 2014 is shaping up to be the hottest year yet.