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Tens of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes Thursday as a destructive forest fire continued to multiply in Butte County, causing new evacuation orders all day long.
The fire, called the camp fire, destroyed several hundred structures – including homes and businesses – in Paradise, threatens another 15,000 structures and injured several others.
"Almost all of Paradise's community is destroyed, that's what kind of devastation," said Cal Fire's Captain Scott Fire on Thursday. "The wind that was expected has come and gone to erase it."
The fire was declared around 6:30 am in the Camp Creek Road area, near Highway 70, in the Feather River Canyon. At 8 pm, the fire had an estimated area of 20,000 acres without containment, said Cal Fire.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
evacuations
The cities of Pulga and Paradise have been invited to evacuate, officials said. If you need assistance to evacuate, call 911. Part of East Chico has been evacuated by police. The Chico Fire Department said the forest fire had not moved within the city limits.
"The severity of this fire is second to none," CHP said. "Please, listen to the evacuation orders and leave immediately after being notified!"
Here is the last list of evacuation orders:
++ East of Bruce Road between Highway 32 and 20th Street in Chico
++ Canyon Canyons Subdivision (behind the door) in Chico
++ Upper Magalia, which includes Humbug, Lovelock, Powellton, Stirling and North Coutelenc
++ City of Pulga
++ Butte College
++ City of paradise
++ Areas of Magalia, Concow, Centerville and Butte Creek Canyon
++ Nelson Shippee Road Area
++ Highway 32 on Nople Avenue up to the city limits of Chico
++ Cherokee from Highway 70 to Lake South to Table Mountain Blvd.
++ Oro Chico Highway from Durham Dayton North to Estates Drive
++ Butte County issued evacuation orders for the following areas: Nimshew Zone, Lower Clark Zone, Lower Skyway Zone, Lower Neal Zone, Upper Honey Run Zone, Carnegie Zone, North Pines Area, North Fir Haven Area, South Fir Haven Area, South Pine Area, Old Magalia Area and South Coutelenc Area
++ All the way Clark and all the way Pentz south of the highway. 70, all the way west to 99 and south up to 149
++ Highway 70 area stretching from Pulga to the west branch bridge on both sides of the road, including Yankee Hill
A evacuation warnings are in place for:
++ Highway 99 east to Highway 70, Highway 162 North to Highway 149
++ Area west of Highway 99 from Highway 149 North to Chico City West to Midway Boundaries
++ Skyway from Lower Paradise via Skyway to Chico City Boundaries
++ Highway 32 to Nople Avenue to the Butte County Line
All schools in Butte County will be closed Friday because of forest fires, officials said.
VENTING SHELTERS
The evacuation center of the Chico District Church and Chico Elks Pavilion is full, said Butte County officials. There is still room in the following evacuation centers:
++ Oroville Nazarene Church at 2238 Monte Vista Avenue in Oroville
++ Butte County Fairgrounds at 199 E Hazel St in Gridley (large pets welcome)
++ Yuba-Sutter Fairground at 442 Franklin Ave in Yuba City
++ Glenn County Fairgrounds at 221 E. Yolo Street in Orland
++ 2279 Del Oro and Mono County Hospital, E Suite for Small Animals
Butte County officials are asking evacuees to register on the Safe & Well Red Cross website. Family members and friends can also search for evacuees on the site through "Find Registrants".
INJURY
Seven people have been injured so far, including two firefighters, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office.
CHP reported that aircraft were operating with the Enloe Medical Center to treat patients.
FIGHT THE BLAZE
Winds and low humidity caused the flames to spread quickly, officials said.
"Firefighters continue to face extreme weather and fire conditions, including high winds and long-range sensing," Cal Fire said in a statement.
Later in the night from Thursday to Thursday, the fire crossed Highway 99 on the Durham-Pentz road, prompting authorities to shut the highway back and forth from the junction of Highway 149 and via the city of Chico.
The fire was heading for a Paradise hospital on Pentz Road, the California Highway Patrol announced Thursday afternoon. More than 60 patients were evacuated to other facilities, some buildings caught fire and were damaged, but the main facility, Adventist Health Feather River Hospital, was not, said spokesperson Jill Kinney.
Some of the patients were first bypassed during their evacuation due to traffic congestion, then were airlifted to other hospitals, as well as some staff, Kinney said.
Four hospital employees were briefly trapped in the basement and rescued by CHP officers, Kinney said.
Officials sent as many firefighters as possible, said Cal Fire spokesman Rick Carhart.
"Every engine we could ignite is burning right now, and others are coming," he said. "We are bringing dozens of strike teams from all parts of the state."
Fire officials said the flames were being fanned by wind, low humidity, dry air, and scrub and soil severely thirsty after months without rain.
"Basically, there has been no rain since last May or before," said Read, the fire chief. "Everything is a very receptive fuel bed.This is a fast spread rate."
California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state of emergency in the region.
Nearly 2,290 firefighters battle the flames, including 303 engines, 11 water schedules, 11 helicopters, 59 hand crews and 24 bulldozers.
"Many firefighting tankers from across the state are conducting fire suppression missions as far as conditions permit," Cal Fire said in a statement.
Sheriff Kory Honea from Butte County confirmed that evacuees had to abandon their vehicles. Rescuers tried to put them in other vehicles, he said.
"We are working very hard to get people out, and the message I want to convey is this: if you can evacuate, you have to evacuate," Honea said.
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings about fire hazards in many parts of the state, indicating that low humidity and strong winds are expected to continue until 39. Friday night.
ROAD CLOSURES
++ Highway 99 is closed in both directions from Junction 149/99 to 9th Street.
++ highway 191
++ Pentz Road
++ Eastbound Highway 32 at Yosemite Drive is closed due to flames jumping from the canyon
++ Closure of Highway 32 at the junction with Highway 36 in Tehama County and Canyon Shadows in Butte County
++ Highway 70 between Pentz Road and the County of Plumas
CAL FEU MAP
Can not see the map? CLICK HERE
Stay with KCRA for updates.
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