Caldor fire grows 7,000 acres overnight as firefighters battle active blazes across the country

The Caldor Fire has grown more than 7,000 acres since Thursday, and has now burned more than 143,951 acres, CalFire officials announced Friday. Firefighters continue to battle the Northern California blaze but high winds, low humidity and dry conditions have allowed fire to spread, jumping Highway 50, which runs between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. 

"It's a little discouraging when we get fire behavior like this that we can't control," CalFire spokesperson Josh Vickers told CBS affiliate KOVR. "What you're feeling right here is 20-25 mph and the fuels are so dry its getting up into the timber." The Caldor Fire has blazed largely out of control since it began on August 14. More than 3,204 CalFire personnel, including engines, water tenders and hand crews, have been assigned to the flame. Officials estimate that the fire will be fully contained by September 8— later than the initial August 31 estimate — but CalFire said gusty winds have continued to spread the flames, threatening 18,000 structures in its path.