PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Crews battling a massive blaze in California that has threatened thousands of homes and fouled the air in two states were standing their ground Wednesday as gusty winds quickly approached.  

More than 7,600 firefighters from across the country were holding containment lines around the King Fire east of Sacramento, fire officials said.

Wind gusts up to 40 mph and low humidity were expected by afternoon and could last well into Thursday, despite a chance of rain and cooler temperatures, said Eric Kurth, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. 

Similar winds doubled the size of the fire a week ago, and it has now burned 145 square miles since it started on Sept. 13. Flames have destroyed 12 homes, and another 21,000 structures — half of them homes — were threatened.

About 2,700 people remain under evacuation orders.

The blaze was almost 40 percent contained and has cost about $53 million to fight, state fire Battalion Chief Scott McLean said.

“The expected winds could push the fire uphill and that will be our current task to tame,” he said.

Crews from as far as away as Alaska and Florida have worked alongside California counterparts to establish and strengthen containment lines. Most crews from out of state stay up to two weeks.

, while crews from across California stay as long as three weeks. 

“This continues to be the highest priority fire in the nation and that necessitated the need for reinforcement,” McLean said. 

Wayne Allen Huntsman, 37, has pleaded not guilty to arson and remains in jail on $10 million bail.