According to the officials, the fire crews are at the scene of a fast-growing wildfire northeast of Redding that had burned about 600 acres by Thursday evening. However, the officials have not confirmed yet the cause of the fire, but as per the report of an online California Highway Patrol log lists a houseboat fire beginning at 11:17 a.m. on Shasta Lake at Bear Mountain and Dry Creek roads.
Firefighters Battle Mountain Fire in Shasta County
Reportedly, responding to the fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection resources reached around 11:30 a.m. after the reports of the fire north of the town of Bella Vista, about 15 miles northeast of Redding.
Just after noon, the fire was listed at 20 acres in size, but grew to 50 acres within minutes, hitting 300 acres by about 1:25 p.m. before doubling in size in just one hour. Shortly before 7 pm, CalFire tweeted that the fire had burned 600 acres and was 20 percent contained.
The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, who was coordinating evacuation orders for nearby towns, initially directed residents to the Shasta College gymnasium but was soon forced to evacuate the college as the fire spread. Residents are now being sent to Crosspointe Community Church in Redding.
Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Anthony Bertain said in a Facebook post on Thursday that about 1,100 homes and structures were threatened, affecting about 3,885 people, with a large area under mandatory evacuation.
Cal Fire said power is expected to be fully restored to Jones Valley by 8 p.m. Friday.
Anyone with animals in need of assistance should call the SHASCOM nonemergency dispatch line at 530-245-6540. Redding fire Chief Kreider said dogs and cats are accepted at Haven Humane, 7449 Eastside Road, while horses and other livestock should go to the Redding Rodeo Grounds, 715 Auditorium Drive.
Residents may text SHASTAFIRE to 898211 for up-to-date information on evacuations and road closures.
Craig Shoemaker, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, however, said that the winds are expected to die down even further Friday about midday and shift to the south which should be better for grappling with the fire.
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