Where are wildfires burning in Northern California? Here are updates on 5 area fires
Three large wildfires are burning in Northern California, including the Salt Fire, the Lava Fire and the Tennant Fire, which have each destroyed structures amid high temperatures and bone-dry conditions.
Together they have collectively burned more than 46,000 acres, prompting mandatory evacuations and road closures across the northern part of the state.
On Friday night, a fire broke out north of Lake Tahoe, but it remains small and away from populated areas. Several other wildfires in the state’s northern reaches threaten to displace thousands and destroy homes in the area. Many homes have already been burned in Shasta County and Siskiyou County, and other communities are still at risk.
Here are updates on Northern California’s largest blazes, as of 12 p.m. Monday:
Salt Fire
The five-day-old Salt Fire has burned 11,693 acres in Shasta County with 20% containment as of Monday morning, as reports surface of homes destroyed by the flames.
The latest damage assessments by the U.S. Forest Service estimate that 27 homes and 14 outbuildings have been destroyed. Four more outbuildings have been damaged.
The fire grew by 4,000 acres over the weekend, and another 2,000 acres over Sunday night. Crews made progress containing the fire overnight, jumping from 15% containment to 20% containment Monday morning.
In a Monday-morning news release, officials said firefighters were successful in redirecting the fire overnight from the Fenders Ferry area down toward the Sacramento River. Through Monday, firefighters will focus on strengthening lines in the Fenders Ferry area and Gilman Road area, in order to keep the fire out of more populated areas.
Throughout the weekend, officials said they were focused on stopping further property damages in the area.
“Crews will work today to prioritize structure protection on the fire, including north and west of Gilman Road, and around Salt Creek,” U.S. Forest Service officials wrote in a Saturday morning update. “Other priorities include protecting private timber lands within the fire area, and maintaining the I-5 corridor.”
At least a dozen buildings have been destroyed south of Lakehead, including homes, garages and outbuildings.
Officials said that smoke is expected to gather in the valleys surround Lakehead, Dunsmuir and Shasta Lake through Monday night, making air conditions unhealthy. The smoke is then expected to drain into the Shasta Lake and Redding area early Tuesday morning, before lifting in the late morning.
Officials expect weather conditions to remain hot and dry throughout Monday.
Mandatory evacuation orders are still in place for areas south of Lakehead near I-5, along with multiple warnings around the region. On Saturday, residents in the Lakehead area on Delta Road and Delta School Road and others west of I-5 in the span of Lakeshore Drive were allowed to return home, but will remain under an evacuation warning.
Authorities believe that the fire began due to a faulty vehicle traveling along I-5. On Thursday morning, the fire briefly closed I-5 near Redding.
The U.S. Forest Service is managing the fire. About 750 firefighters are on the scene.
Lava Fire
The Lava Fire, which began from a lightning strike June 24, is California’s largest wildfire this season so far. As of Sunday morning, it has charred 24,974 acres and sits at 70% containment. The fire is burning 3 1/2 miles northeast of Weed in Siskiyou County.
Crews reported Monday morning that the fire grew just 200 acres overnight, and containment increased to 70% from 39% Sunday morning. Direct containment lines have been secured around the majority of the fire, and officials report a “diminished likelihood of spread.”
On Sunday, Cal Fire officials reduced all evacuation orders in the Lake Shastina and Carrick area to evacuation warnings. Road closures remain in place along Highway 97.
Despite a forecast of thunderstorms this weekend along the eastern edge of California, officials say the weather did not impede the firefight.
“Overnight fire behavior continued to moderate and no effect from nocturnal thunderstorms was observed,” U.S. Forest Service officials wrote in a Sunday update. “Only growth was on the southeast portion of the Lava Fire as it continues to creep up the inaccessible slopes of Mt Shasta.”
About 1,410 fire personnel are assigned to the Lava Fire, which is being managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
No injuries or deaths have been reported from the fire itself. The fire is believed to have destroyed cannabis farms in the region, many of which were run by the local Hmong population.
A Hmong man was shot to death by authorities Monday at a road closure as tensions have grown between law enforcement officials and local Hmong cannabis farmers regarding the mandatory evacuations.
On Saturday, 14 people were arrested by the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office for entering and refusing to leave an evacuation zone, including one who pushed an official with a vehicle and ran through a roadblock.
Tennant Fire
The Tennant Fire is also burning in Siskiyou County, northeast of the Lava Fire. As of Monday morning, the fire spans 10,541 acres and is 51% contained.
The seven-day-old fire began in Klamath National Forest due to unknown causes. It is currently burning near Highway 97 and Tennant Road, about three miles northwest of Bray.
The fire grew by around 130 acres overnight, firefighters said Monday morning. Crews significantly increased the fire’s containment, up to 51% from 29% Sunday morning.
The eastern edge of the fire posed the strongest threat through the weekend. On Sunday evening, fire crews used a controlled burn to stabilize the eastern edge, allowing more containment into Monday morning.
“The burn was successful and created several hundred feet of depth off of the control line,” U.S. Forest Service officials wrote in a Monday morning update. “Containment of the Tennant Fire has continued to progress as resources have begun to focus more on mop-up due to containment lines holding well over the past couple of days.”
Temperatures will remain high and wind is expected to increase into Tuesday, resulting in a “potential for critical conditions,” officials said. Crews will continue to monitor surrounding areas for new spot fires and reignition.
Evacuation orders remain in place east of Highway 97 to East Ball Mountain Road and from Old State Highway to Bray. The fire has destroyed at least five structures, including two homes.
No injuries or deaths have been reported.
The fire is being managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and more than 870 firefighters are on the scene.
East Fork Fire
The East Fork Fire is burning in Alpine County 15 miles east of Woodfords, near the Nevada state line. As of Sunday evening, the fire is 1,100 acres wide and 30% contained.
The wildfire started on July 1, and U.S. Forest Service officials say it was sparked by lightning.
The area surrounding the fire consists of steep terrain on the East Fork of the Carson River, which is where fire crews are working to contain the fire. Officials say that the weather has helped crews gain containment.
“The East Fork Fire received a good amount of rain last night and firefighters took advantage of the favorable humid conditions today,” Forest Service officials wrote in a Sunday evening update. “As of this afternoon, all established containment lines are holding.”
The Forest Service expects crews to remain in the area for several more days, and is asking residents to stay out. Airport Road is closed in the area between Highway 89 and Diamond Valley Road. About 315 personnel are fighting the East Fork Fire.
Beckwourth Complex
A new wildfire complex sparked Friday evening, burning in Plumas County near Highway 70 at Sugarloaf Peak.
The complex contains the Dotta Fire, which started on June 30, and the Sugar Fire, which started on July 2. Both fires began due to lightning strikes.
As of Monday morning, the fires have collectively burned 1,160 acres, and containment is at 23%. Little fire growth has been reported in the last 48 hours, and officials expect full containment by July 8.
“Firefighters continue to make good progress on the Dotta and Sugar fires within the Beckwourth Complex,” U.S. Forest Service officials wrote in a Monday morning update. “Direct and indirect hand lines have been completed around both fires and are holding. There has been no additional growth in the two fires over the last two days.”
No injuries or structure damages have been reported from the fire.
Evacuation warnings are in effect for Dixie Valley and Maddalena. Holiday vacationers are asked to steer clear of the fire area while returning home.
Forecast update
A red flag warning is in effect Monday morning near the Oregon border, affecting Siskiyou County east of the Cascade Mountains down to Mt. Shasta and Modoc County except for the Surprise Valley.
The red flag warning was issued due to strong gusting winds and dry conditions, the National Weather Service said. Both the Lava and Tennant Fires are burning the red flag zone.
Red flag warnings were in effect in much of Northern California this weekend.
The National Weather Service’s Sacramento office previously said smoke from wildfires in Northern California is forecast to mostly remain north of the fires due to the winds from the south. As of Monday morning, the NWS expects smoke along I-5 north of Redding but does not expect it to reach anywhere further south.
This story was originally published July 1, 2021 at 3:01 PM.
