El Dorado County wildfire spreads to 8,600 acres

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A wildfire has exploded in El Dorado County and grown to 8,600 acres.

The fire more than doubled in size to nearly 13 1/2 square miles, and containment has been reduced to just 5 percent.

The King Fire roared to life near Pollock Pines just off Highway 50, and the steep terrain there is making it difficult to fight.

The flames are threatening 500 homes, and mandatory evacuations remain in place.

Some 6,000 firefighters are battling 11 major wildfires burning across an extremely dry and parched Golden State.