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Tens of thousands of people are forced to evacuate Thursday as a destructive wildfire continues to grow in Butte County.
The fire, called the Fire Camp, has several hundred structures in Paradise, California, and injured multiple people.
The wildfire ignited around 6:30 am in the Camp Creek Road area near Highway 70 in the Feather River Canyon. As of 2:30 pm, the fire was estimated to be 18,000 acres in size, Cal Fire said.
Windy conditions and low humidity caused the flames to be spread quickly, officials said.
The fire was moving towards a hospital on Pentz Road, the California Highway Patrol said. More than 60 patients were evacuated to other facilities, Adventist Health Feather River Hospital, spokesperson Jill Kinney said.
Some of the patients have been relocated during their evacuation because of gridlocked traffic and later airlifted to other hospitals, along with some staff, Kinney said.
Four hospital employees were briefly trapped in the base and rescued by CHP officers, Kinney said.
EVACUATION
The town of Pulga and several areas of Paradise have been told to evacuate, according to the Butte County Sheriff 's Office and CHP Oroville. If you need assistance evacuating, call 911.
Below is the latest list of evacuation orders:
++ The town of Pulga
++ Butte College
++ Town of Paradise
++ Magalia, Concow, Centerville and Butte Creek Canyon areas
++ Butte County has been established for the following areas: Nimshew Zone, Lower Clark Zone, Lower Skyway Zone, Lower Neal Zone, Upper Honey Run Zone, Carnegie Zone, North Pines Zone, North Fir Haven Zone, South Fir Haven Zone, South Pine Zone, Old Magalia Area and South Coutelenc Zone
++ All of Clark and all of Pentz road south to Hwy 70, everything west to 99 and south to 149
++ Area of Hwy 70 from Yankee Hill and Concow
Do not know your evacuation zone? Look at the map below or CLICK HERE
An evacuation warnings are in place for:
++ The Humbug Zone, Lovelock Area and North Coutelenc Zone
++ Hwy 32 at Nople Avenue down to the Chico City Limits.
++ Skyway from Lower Paradise to the Skyway to the Chico City Limits
There are currently no evacuation orders or warnings in the City of Chico due to the wildfire, the Chico Fire Department said.
EVACUATION SHELTERS
The evacuation center at the Neighborhood Church in Chico is full, Butte County officials tweeted. Room is still available in the following evacuation centers:
++ Oroville Nazarene Church at 2238 Monte Vista Ave. in Oroville
++ Butte County Fairgrounds at 199 E Hazel St in Gridley
Butte County officials are asking to register with the Red Cross Safe & Well website. Concerned family and friends can also search for evacuees on the site through "Search Registrants."
INJURIES
Seven people have been injured so, including two firefighters, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office.
CHP said it has been working with Enloe Medical Center to treat patients.
BATTLING THE BLAZE
They were sending firefighters as they could, Cal Fire spokesman Rick Carhart said.
"Every engine that we could put on the fire is on the fire right now, and more are coming," he said. "There are dozens of strike teams that we're bringing in from all parts of the state."
Fire officials said the flames were being fueled by winds, low humidity, and dry air.
"Basically," said Read, the fire chief. "Everything is a very receptive fuel bed. It's a rapid rate of spread."
Acting California Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for the area.
ROAD CLOSURES
++ Highway 191 closed at the junction of Highway 70
++ Highway 70 closed at westbound and westbound connectors to northbound Highway 149
++ Highway 70 closed from 4.6 miles east of the junction of Highway 191 at Pentz Road to the north junction of Highway 89
POWER OUTAGES
About 14,000 PG & E customers are without power in Butte and Plumas counties.
PG & E has shut off power in the area of the blaze at firefighters' request. No proactive power shutoffs were initiated, the company said.
Other items in the area were caused by the fire.
CAL FIRE MAP
Can not see the map? CLICK HERE
No other details have been released.
Stay with KCRA for updates.
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