The Elephant Fire in California's Sierra Nevada has more than doubled in size, becoming the state's second-largest wildfire of the year. The blaze, located north of Loyalton in the Tahoe National Forest, has scorched over 12,300 acres as of Tuesday afternoon, according to CAL FIRE.
More than 500 firefighters are engaged in battling the fast-moving fire, which is located near the Nevada state line. Containment was at 5% as of Tuesday, with the fire having doubled in size in less than 24 hours. Fire crews and bulldozers are working to establish firelines to slow the fire's progression, while aircraft are conducting targeted water and retardant drops.
This makes the Elephant Fire the second-largest blaze in California this year, surpassed only by the Santa Rosa Island fire, which burned 18,379 acres in May.
Favorable weather conditions are assisting suppression efforts, allowing crews to work on securing firelines toward full containment. Evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted for parts of Lassen and Plumas counties, though officials urge caution in the surrounding areas.
The cause of the wildfire remains undetermined. Firefighting operations were temporarily suspended on Sunday due to reports of an unauthorized drone flying in restricted airspace. Authorities identified the drone operator, and operations resumed after the device was no longer a threat.