Rocky Fire Lake County Link

Four years of drought had left fuel moisture at record lows, allowing the fire to burn aggressively through the night instead of calming. Impact and Scale

Investigators traced the origin to the 9000 block of Rocky Creek Road. ROCKY FIRE LAKE COUNTY

The fire consumed roughly 22,000 acres in just five hours—a rate of spread that computer models predicted would take seven days. Four years of drought had left fuel moisture

The heater was "strapped to a tree" in a structure filled with flammable liquids—a setup officials described as "inventive" but "not very safe". including 43 homes and 53 outbuildings

Leveled 96 structures, including 43 homes and 53 outbuildings, primarily in the Morgan Valley area.