embers

Smoke and embers blew in through cracks around the doors and windows, through attic vents and into the basement.

Among other potential causes, the ATF is investigating whether hidden embers from the earlier fire sparked the larger blaze when the winds kicked up.

Investigators are examining whether it could have reignited from the embers of a smaller blaze that occurred on Jan. 1 around the Skull Rock area.

It also used a new model for estimating how far embers can bring fire into developed areas.

“All of a sudden, that’s what happened on the mountain. I could tell the embers were getting hotter and hotter, and eventually, the mountain blew up in flames.”