Mill Fire in Siskiyou County still 4,254 acres Sunday; Highway 97 reopens

Damon Arthur, Redding Record Searchlight
·2 min read
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A block of homes in north Weed was destroyed by the Mill Fire on Friday.
A block of homes in north Weed was destroyed by the Mill Fire on Friday.

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The latest update from California fire officials Sunday morning showed the Mill Fire in Siskiyou County did not grow overnight and remained at 4,254 acres.

Highway 97 from Weed to MacDoel had been closed due to the Mill Fire, but the route was open again as of Sunday morning.

However, the Mountain Fire, also burning in Siskiyou County, grew 13% from Saturday night to Sunday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The Mountain Fire was 6,451 acres Sunday morning and 5% contained. That fire burned in a more remote location, west of Interstate 5 and about 9 miles southwest of the community of Gazelle.

No structures had been destroyed and none were threatened by the Mountain Fire, Cal Fire said.

Firefighters spray water on the rubble of what was a home near downtown Weed on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. It was the day after the Mill Fire broke out in Weed and raced north toward the Northern California community of Lake Shastina near the Oregon border. Cal Fire crews were mopping up hot spots in Weed and Lake Shastina.
Firefighters spray water on the rubble of what was a home near downtown Weed on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. It was the day after the Mill Fire broke out in Weed and raced north toward the Northern California community of Lake Shastina near the Oregon border. Cal Fire crews were mopping up hot spots in Weed and Lake Shastina.

Earlier estimates said about 100 structures were destroyed when Mill Fire broke out early Friday afternoon and burned from north Weed to the Lake Shastina subdivision.

However, Sunday's latest report on fire conditions said there were 50 destroyed buildings, including no outbuildings, according to Cal Fire.

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While the Weed mayor said the Mill Fire started at the Roseburg Forest Products Mill in Weed, Cal Fire said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Three people were injured in the blaze and the fire was still 25% contained, the same percentage of containment indicated in Cal Fire's Saturday fire update.

Burned out vehicles rest on a street in downtown Weed on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. It was the day after the Mill Fire broke out in Weed and raced north toward the Northern California community of Lake Shastina near the Oregon border. Cal Fire crews were mopping up hot spots in Weed and Lake Shastina.
Burned out vehicles rest on a street in downtown Weed on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. It was the day after the Mill Fire broke out in Weed and raced north toward the Northern California community of Lake Shastina near the Oregon border. Cal Fire crews were mopping up hot spots in Weed and Lake Shastina.

There were 411 structures threatened and 1,000 people still evacuated as of Sunday morning, Cal Fire said. An evacuation shelter was set up at the Kahtishraam Wellness Center, 1403 Kahtishraam street in Yreka, for Mill and Mountain fire evacuees.

Cal Fire planned to hold a community information meeting on both fires at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Big Springs Elementary School, 7405 County Highway A12 in Montague.

Damon Arthur is the Record Searchlight’s resources and environment reporter. He is part of a team of journalists who investigate wrongdoing and find the unheard voices to tell the stories of the North State. He welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834 by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Mill Fire in Siskiyou County still 4,254 acres; Highway 97 reopens