The fire that caused widespread devastation in Northern California was started by a flat tire
- The Carr Fire, which caused widespread devastation in Northern California, was caused by a flat tire.
- The incident occurred on July 23. The fire was fed by triple-digit temperatures and dry winds.
- Firefighters are fighting 17 wildfires throughout the state.
California officials say that the Carr Fire, which has claimed 8 lives and forced evacuations in the city of Redding, was caused by a flat tire.
The fire was first ignited on July 23, after a trailer's tire blew out and the rim made contact with the pavement, California fire officials told CNN.
That incident shot sparks into the dry brush, igniting a blaze that traveled up California's Highway 299. Triple-digit temperatures and dry winds exacerbated the blaze.
The fire has so far destroyed over 1,000 houses in Redding and surrounding cities and engulfed over 163, 000 acres as of Monday morning, according to Cal Fire, the state's fire agency.
The fire is 45% contained and is threatening over 1,200 structures.
Firefighters are battling 17 fires throughout California. Another fire, the Mendocino Complex Fire, is on track to become the biggest in the state's history, according to officials.
And things are only set to get worse: Many areas of California are expected to be hit by strong, dry winds and triple-digit temperatures in the coming days.