The Latest: Interstate to stay closed in the middle of the California fire



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SHASTA-TRINITY NATIONAL FOREST, California – The latest news on California wildfires (local time):

12:05

A California official said that a stretch of high road near the border between California and Oregon, hit by a forest fire, would remain closed over the weekend.

Denise Yergenson, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Transportation, said Friday that the fire that caused Interstate 5 to shut off Wednesday was still unmanageable along the way.

She says the fire has destroyed thousands of trees that could fall on the roadway.

Authorities on Sunday will reevaluate when it is necessary to reopen the highway that crosses the entire west coast of Mexico to Canada.

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11:10

Officials say the biggest wildfire recorded in California should be totally under control by Sunday, more than six weeks after its launch.

The US Forest Service said Friday that the deadly fire in the Mendocino area since July 27 killed a Utah firefighter, destroyed 157 homes and burned 760 square miles (1860 square kilometers).

The Mendocino complex, two fires juxtaposed north of San Francisco, also resulted in the evacuation of thousands of people.

One of the two fires was completely under control in August and residents were allowed to return home. But a second massive fire continues to burn in the Mendocino National Forest.

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8:45

A fire that destroyed a major highway and became uncontrollable by the woods and brush in northern California increased during the night.

The US Forest Service said in a statement on Friday that the fire is now 98 square miles (98 square kilometers). That's 89 square miles starting on Thursday night.

The Forest Service did not release containment figures, but California Highway Patrol Officer Jason Morton said the fire was at zero percent and was still burning along the road. Interstate 5.

The highway that connects the Mexican and Canadian borders is closed for a third day and authorities plan to meet at 10 am to determine if it can reopen.

The road connects California, Oregon and Washington states and is the main communication route for commercial trucks.

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7:15

A large west coast highway remains closed for a third day while a forest fire continues to rage over the forest that borders it north of California.

The California Highway Patrol said the reopening of Interstate 5 was a priority, but the highway patrol, fire and transport officials would meet Friday to determine when to reopen the highway between the US-Mexico border and the border. Canada-US.

Authorities say the state of the road is a source of concern, as are the trees burned along the road that are at risk of falling. Some measure 21 meters (70 feet).

The 72-kilometer (45-mile) stretch of highway near the Oregon State Line has been closed since a fire broke out Wednesday on both sides of the roadway and broke through walls. flames.

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12:00

Authorities are still pondering the question of whether to reopen a high road that was closed for two days by a forest fire in northern California.

Officials must first determine whether it is prudent to resume travel on a 72-kilometer stretch of Interstate 5, near the Oregon State Line. The highway was closed on Wednesday while the fire broke out on both sides.

Fire spokesman Brandon Vacarro said the work crews had cleaned up the burned and abandoned trucks after the rapid fire, but they also needed to determine if 21-meter burnt trees along the road were at risk. to fall.

What is known as the Delta Fire burned over 88 square kilometers (88 square miles) and caused evacuation orders for houses and buildings scattered in three counties of the forest Shasta-Trinity National Park and its surroundings.

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