The wildfire known as the “Rocky Fire” in northern California has grown to over 60,000 acres in three counties and resulted in the destruction of over 50 buildings.

More than 12,000 residents have been forced to evacuate their homes because of the advancing flames.  The fire was only 12% contained as of Monday morning.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the fire grew in an area with “little to no fire history” making it more difficult for the firefighters to predict the path of the flames.

The fire is threatening over 6,300 structures.

In all, over 134,000 acres are burning.

“There are pretty widespread evacuations,” Brad Alexander, chief spokesman for the governor’s emergency services office, told the LA Times. “The big issue is this is an area that hasn’t had burning in several decades.

“They’ve got chaparral that is over 6 feet tall,” Alexander said. “When you have vegetation that big and dense in an area like that it is going to cause flames to race up and down canyon walls and hillsides.  It can move as fast as the wind can carry it. …So when you have perfect conditions for an explosive fire, it is critical folks are listening.”

Officials confirmed the death of one firefighter in a fire in Modoc County south of the Oregon border.  He was scouting ways to fight the fire when erratic winds suddenly caused the blaze to expand exponentially.  David Ruhl was 38 and a married father of two.

Officials also said that a fire near Yosemite National Park that burned 200 acres was deliberately set and a woman is under arrest for starting the blaze.