A rescue operation was launched on Monday to save 13 hikers stranded in a wildfire zone near the Tahoe National Forest in Northern California’s Placer County. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office initiated the search after locating the hikers’ vehicles in the area affected by the Royal Fire, which started around 4 p.m. on Sunday.

A search-and-rescue helicopter crew found the group at approximately 7:20 a.m. PT on Monday. “Search and rescue crews will be inserted to hike out with them,” the sheriff’s office stated. Elise Sovier, a spokesperson for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, mentioned that the hikers, aged 16 to 20, set out on Sunday before the fire began. Familiar with the trail, the group had to find an alternate path when the fire blocked their route. There have been no immediate reports of injuries among the hikers.

As of Monday, the Royal Fire had burned 169 acres and was 0% contained, according to Cal Fire.

Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County: Threat to Neverland Ranch

The Lake Fire, burning near the Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County, was 8% contained as of Monday morning after scorching over 7,000 acres since Sunday. This fire, the largest of the wildfire season in California, is among 21 active fires in the state.

The blaze, located about 40 miles north of Santa Barbara, began on Friday afternoon near Zaca Lake in the Los Padres National Forest. Evacuation orders were issued by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department on Saturday night as the fire grew uncontrollably. Notably, the evacuation zone includes the 5000 block of Figueroa Mountain Road, where Michael Jackson’s former ranch, Neverland, is situated.

The fire erupted during a severe heat wave affecting California. CAL FIRE reported, “An EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING through next week continues to affect the fire with high temperatures, drying vegetation, and little relief at night. The National Weather Service noted that such an intense and prolonged heat wave has not been experienced in this region for 20 years.” Over the weekend, temperatures reached the high 90s, with relative humidity around 11%, conditions that exacerbate wildfire behavior due to rapidly drying fine fuels like grass and pine needles.

The cause of the Lake Fire is currently under investigation.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, especially the potential threat to Neverland Ranch, given the fire’s unpredictable nature and rapid spread.