Relentless fires sweep through Northern California
Ferocious summer blazes that have burned thousands of acres in the North State, especially in Siskiyou County and beyond, show conditions are at a flashpoint.
The latest forest inferno, named the Forward Fire, had burned 160 acres in eastern Tehama County and was 5% contained Saturday morning after generating giant smoke plumes Friday afternoon.
Extremely dry brush, heat hovering well above 100 degrees, steep terrain and gusty winds helped spread the Forward fire on Friday. A gusty north wind blew up to 20 mph early Friday afternoon, spreading the fire when it started.
Last week's heat wave was expected to ease and aid firefighters over the weekend, said Cory Mueller, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. Sunday's high temperatures were expected to drop into the 80s to give crews a temporary reprieve.
Meanwhile, firefighters have been busy with last Thursday's Eliza Fire northwest of Yreka, the devastating Mill Fire in Weed and Lake Shastina, the Mountain Fire southwest of Gazelle, and others in Siskiyou County.
As of Saturday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said 316,031 acres have burned in California so far from 6,232 wildfires. The 2022 summary includes fires handled by Cal Fire and other agencies.
"This time of year, our fuels are significantly drier. The grass is completely dried out and our timber and brush are ready to burn, too," Cal Fire spokesman Aaron Johnson said.
The state's persistent drought combined with dangerous summertime red flag conditions create challenges for firefighters and keep residents on edge. About 84,000 acres have burned in the Mill, Mountain, McKinney, Yeti and Alex fires this summer.
"Our fuels are significantly ready to burn with any fire starts," Johnson said. "In the drought conditions over the past couple of years, the fires — when they do start — they seem to spread fairly quickly."
The deadly Mill Fire that started the afternoon of Sept. 2 in Weed had blackened 3,935 acres as of Saturday morning and was 85% contained, Cal Fire said.
The Mill Fire claimed the lives of two women. One was 66 and the other was 73, according to Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue. They were found at separate locations; authorities have not released their names. There have been three civilian injuries.
Roseburg Forest Products Co. said last Wednesday it's investigating whether the blaze was caused by the possible failure of a water-spraying machine used to cool ash at its veneer mill in Weed.
Officials said that while their investigation is ongoing, the wood products company had planned to provide up to $50 million for a community restoration fund.
The Mill Fire, which overran the city of Weed and Lake Shastina, destroyed 118 structures and damaged another 26.
The larger, recent blaze was the Mountain Fire, which was 11,330 acres and 60% contained Saturday morning, Cal Fire said.
The Mountain Fire burned in a more remote location, west of Interstate 5 and about 9 miles southwest of the community of Gazelle. It also started the afternoon of Sept. 2.
Four buildings were destroyed in the Mountain Fire. Its cause was under investigation.
Other major fires that have burned in Siskiyou County this summer are the McKinney Fire west of Yreka that consumed 60,138 acres in the Klamath River area. Four people died in that blaze. The McKinney Fire was 99% contained Saturday.
The lightning-caused Yeti and Alex fires, also in western Siskiyou County, burned 7,886 acres. The Yeti blaze was 98% contained Saturday.
Other fires:
Eliza Fire: Remained at 21 acres Friday outside Yreka. All evacuation warnings have been lifted. Klamath National Forest firefighters were working to make sure the fire lines held.
Coyote Fire: Was 55% contained Saturday at 297 acres on Coyote Ridge, west of Red Rock Lakes, southeast of Dorris. It started last Wednesday and its cause is under investigation.
Barnes Fire: Lightning started this fire last Wednesday in the Modoc National Forest at Buck Creek Road and Buck Creek Overlook Road, north of Davis Creek in Modoc County. It had burned 5,703 acres as of Saturday and was 0% contained.
Branstetter Fire: The 34-acre blaze started Sept. 1 at Branstetter Lane and Cedars Road in Redding. It's fully contained.
Six Rivers Lightning Complex: This series of fires started Aug. 5 in Humboldt and Trinity counties. At 41,540 acres, it was 89% contained as of Saturday morning.
Other fires that burned in Siskiyou County at the end of July and beginning of August were the Smokey Fire west of Hilt (34 acres), the Kelsey Fire southwest of Scott Bar (85 acres), the Meamber Fire northwest of Fort Jones (63 acres) and the Shackleford Fire west of Fort Jones (31 acres).
Mike Chapman is an award-winning reporter and photographer for the Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif. His newspaper career spans Yreka and Eureka in Northern California and Bellingham, Wash. Support local journalism by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Relentless fires sweep through Northern California
