Firefighters in California combat Woolsey Fire flare-up

Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Firefighters in California responded to a flare-up of one of three fires burning throughout the state on Tuesday.

A flare-up of the Woolsey Fire sent a plume of smoke hundreds of feet into the air and reached 50 acres to 100 acres in size less than an hour after it was first reported around 9:15 a.m., Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Capt. Stan Ziegler told the Ventura County Star.

"It is a flare-up from the Woolsey Fire. It is not a new start," said Ziegler.

The spot fire burned through 50 acres of dense brush and was fanned by strong winds that pushed the flames toward the Boney Mountain peak, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"We are not out of the woods yet," Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said. "We still have some incredibly tough conditions ahead of us."

The Woolsey Fire burned 96,314 acres and was 35 percent contained, Cal Fire said in a report Tuesday.

Two people have died as a result of the blaze, which also has destroyed 435 structures and threatened 57,000 more.

The largest of the three fires, known as the Camp Fire, grew to 125,000 acres Tuesday and was 30 percent contained, Cal Fire said.

It was already the deadliest fire in the state's history, claiming 42 lives, but the death toll is expected to rise with 200 people still unaccounted for.

"The tragedy continues. The search for lives continues," California Gov. Jerry Brown said. "The firefighters are doing their best and I want to express gratitude for that. Other states are providing resources. California is pretty well maxed out."

The Camp Fire has destroyed 6,522 residences and 260 commercial structures since it began Thursday and has threatened 15,500 more, Cal Fire said.

The Ventura County blaze known as the Hill Fire was 90 percent contained Tuesday, having burned 4,531 acres, Cal Fire said.

To date the blaze has destroyed two structures and damaged two more.