Monument Fire grows by 6,000 acres in just one night to engulf more than 15,000 ...

Monument Fire grows by 6,000 acres in just one night to engulf more than 15,000 ...
Monument Fire grows by 6,000 acres in just one night to engulf more than 15,000 ...

Firefighters are battling to extinguish the Monument Fire as it grew by 6,000 acres in one night to engulf 15,000 - which has forced thousands to evacuate their homes.

Forest officials said the fire, burning near Big Bar and Del Loma in California, kept spotting ahead of itself and is now established on the north side of the Trinity River. 

Four spot fires crossed the Trinity River and Highway 299 in Northern California closing the highway. The fire remains south of Del Loma and a half-mile east of Big Bar.

On the west side, the fire crossed over Panther Creek and has spotted across Canadian Creek. On the south side, the fire is still holding on Monument Peak and on the adjacent ridges.

Evacuation orders were issued by the Trinity County Sheriff for Big Bar and Del Loma on Monday night at 9:35 pm. Highway 299 has been intermittently closed or subject to controlled traffic.  

The Monument Fire burns along the banks of the Trinity River in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, August 3

The Monument Fire burns along the banks of the Trinity River in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, August 3

The Monument Fire in Big Bar, California had burned 6,000 acres since it began five days ago, August 3

The Monument Fire in Big Bar, California had burned 6,000 acres since it began five days ago, August 3

A home is consumed by flames in the River Fire, a wildfire burning in Grass Valley, California, August 4

A home is consumed by flames in the River Fire, a wildfire burning in Grass Valley, California, August 4

The rush of flames generated a towering plume of smoke visible from at least 70 miles away as the Bay Area is issued an advisory due to the unhealthy air quality on August 4

 The rush of flames generated a towering plume of smoke visible from at least 70 miles away as the Bay Area is issued an advisory due to the unhealthy air quality on August 4

There are currently 26 wildfires forging destructive blazing paths as the state continues to experience increasingly dangerious fires

There are currently 26 wildfires forging destructive blazing paths as the state continues to experience increasingly dangerious fires 

A firefighter uses a garden hose to try to slow flames that were consuming a home in the path of the River Fire, a wildfire burning in Grass Valley, California, August 4

A firefighter uses a garden hose to try to slow flames that were consuming a home in the path of the River Fire, a wildfire burning in Grass Valley, California, August 4 

Flames from the River Fire burn vegetation near Taylor Crossing Road near Dog Bar Road on Wednesday in Grass Valley

Flames from the River Fire burn vegetation near Taylor Crossing Road near Dog Bar Road on Wednesday in Grass Valley

An abandoned car burns at the River Fire, a wildfire burning in Grass Valley, August 4

An abandoned car burns at the River Fire, a wildfire burning in Grass Valley, August 4

The Monument has grown to nearly the size of the McFarland Fire, which has burned just under 16,000 acres in Trinity County, officials said. The McFarland Fire is 5% contained. 

It is believed that the Trinity County fires were caused by lightning strikes in the forest area. The Monument Fire has been burning for five days straight. 

The rush of flames generated a towering plume of smoke visible from at least 70 miles away. 

On Wednesday, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) issued an air quality advisory for Thursday and

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