LOS ANGELES, July 26 (Xinhua) -- A massive wildfire had scorched 197,487 acres (799.2 square km) of timber and brush in Northern California's two counties, about two hours driving away from northeast of the state capital city Sacramento, with 22 percent contained but still threatening over 10,000 homes, local KLTA 5 news channel reported Monday.

The biggest fire raging in California, dubbed Dixie Fire, continued growing over the weekend after merging with the smaller Fly Fire. It tore through the remote Northern California community of Indian Falls on Sunday, destroying at least 16 homes and other buildings there.

The 15th largest wildfire in the history of California, the second fire in the state this year, achieved "megafire" status last Thursday when it surpassed over 100,000 acres (404.7 square km). Since then it almost doubled size in five days.

The Beckwourth Complex fire in Plumas National Forest garnered the designation early this month and remained at about 105,000 acres (406.7 square km) with 98 percent contained Monday.

More than 5,400 personnel from across California are putting out the fire around the clock, local media said, adding that more reinforces had come from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and even Florida to join the operation.

More than 85 large wildfires were burning across the country, most of them in Western states, and they had burned over 1,511,162 acres (6,115.5 square km) of land as of Monday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Enditem

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