Firefighters fight mountain fire in Shasta County

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SHASTA COUNTY – Fire crews are on the scene of a growing forest fire northeast of Redding, which had burned about 820 acres on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

Authorities have not confirmed the cause of the fire, but an online California Highway Patrol newspaper lists information that a barge fire started at 11:17 am on Shasta Lake on Bear Mountain and Dry Creek.

Resources from the California Department of Forests and Fire Protection reacted around 11:30 am after being informed of the fire north of the town of Bella Vista, about 25 km northeast of Redding.

Just after noon, the fire had an area of ​​20 acres, but reached 50 acres in minutes, reaching 300 acres at about 1:25 pm. before doubling in size in just one hour. At 1435, the fire had burned 600 hectares without containment at zero, CalFire said.

At 5:30 pm Cullen Kreider, Redding Fire Chief, said CalFire had increased its size to 820 acres.

The Shasta County Sheriff's Office, which co-ordinated the evacuation orders from neighboring towns, had first directed the residents to the Shasta Middle School gymnasium, but was soon forced to evacuate the college when the fire broke out. spreading. Residents are now being sent to the Crosspointe Community Church in Redding.

Faith Hornby, from the store of the professional, said that the fire seemed to be about six miles further east (she could see the big black plume) and had no order of 'em. clear out. The wind seemed to be blowing east, she said, away from the city.

"I know there are probably mobile homes and storage units that are probably pretty unlucky right now," Hornby said. "Apart from that, it's not yet the case for Redding."

The golf course remained open, she said, "but we just take precautions. If someone wants to go out and play, we make sure that he takes his phone with him and that he takes a cart rather than walking.

About 1,100 homes and structures have been threatened, affecting approximately 3,885 people, including a large area undergoing mandatory evacuation, Lieutenant-General Anthony Bertain of the Shasta County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook message on Thursday.

Simpson University said its campus was not in danger, but the planned women's soccer game was canceled as a precaution.

Road closures included Route 299 between Deschutes and Old Oregon Trail, Kitty Hawk at Bear Mountain Road, Bear Mountain Road at Dry Creek, Bear Mountain at Old Oregon Trail and Old Oregon Trail at Oasis.

Anyone with animals needing assistance should call the SHASCOM emergency dispatch line at 530-245-6540. Redding Fire Chief Kreider said dogs and cats were accepted at Haven Humane, 7449 Eastside Road, while horses and other animals were to go to Redding Rodeo Grounds, 715 Auditorium Drive.

Residents can send a message to SHASTAFIRE at 898211 for up-to-date information on evacuations and closures.

The conditions in the area were windy but not "excessively" windy, said Craig Shoemaker, a meteorologist with the National Meteorological Service. The northwest winds blow about 10 miles to the hour, he said, with occasional gusts ranging from 17 to 20 miles at the time.

These winds are expected to dissipate around noon Friday and head south, which Shoemaker says should be more effective in fighting the fire.

"North winds [are] worse for the fire because they blow in canyon, "he said. "The winds blowing from the south should be better to fire the lake – it's hope anyway."

The air was also very dry, he said, with humidity rates in the range of 15 to 20% Thursday.

"We expect moisture levels to reach 45 or 50 percent," said Shoemaker. "It's not a very strong increase in humidity, but an overnight improvement, which should help a little."

Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.

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