A rescue operation was conducted on Monday to evacuate 13 hikers trapped in a wildfire zone near the Tahoe National Forest in Placer County, California. The Placer County Sheriff's Office initiated the search after discovering the hikers' vehicles in the area where the Royal Fire ignited around 4 p.m. on Sunday.

 

A helicopter crew located the group around 7:20 a.m. on Monday. "Search and rescue crews will join them to hike out," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

 

Elise Sovier, spokesperson for the Placer County Sheriff's Office, reported that the hikers, aged between 16 and 20, set out together on Sunday before the fire started. Despite their familiarity with the trail, the fire blocked their path, forcing them to seek an alternative route.

 

No injuries were reported among the hikers. The Royal Fire had burned 169 acres as of Monday and was not contained, according to Cal Fire.

 

Multiple wildfires are currently active in California:

 

- Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County:

8% contained, has burned over 7,000 acres since Sunday.

 

- North Fire in Modoc County:

Reached 4,380 acres and is not contained.

 

- Shelly Fire in Siskiyou County: Burned 3,880 acres and is not contained.

 

- Thompson Fire in Oroville:98% contained, burned 3,789 acres.

 

- Basin Fire in San Joaquin Valley:

60% contained, burned 14,027 acres.

 

- French Fire near Yosemite National Park:

60% contained, burned 908 acres.

 

- McCain Fire in San Diego County:

95% contained, burned 1,595 acres.

 

Extreme temperatures and low humidity have exacerbated the wildfire situation across the state.