tea Two victims were killed At a Friday mill fire in Northern California Both are women — aged 66 and 73 — was found within Weed City limits, authorities said early Monday.
Paramedics on Friday found the two women, whose names were not released pending notification of their relatives, by first responders after the fire broke out, according to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff officials said no other residents were reported missing. At a field briefing early Monday, Cal Fire chief Philip Anzu led firefighters into a moment of silence for the two victims.
City officials said fire mill It is believed to have started in a shed on an unused part of the Roseburg Forest Products herb mill, although Cal Fire has not confirmed where or how the fire started.
Within hours of the mill fire starting at about 12:49 p.m. Friday, a second fire — the Mountain Fire — broke out several miles to the west.
Both were still burning Monday and officials estimate that at least 100 homes were destroyed in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Wade and in nearby Lake Chastina.
Mill Fire burned 4,263 acres by Monday morning, up 9 acres overnight. Cal Fire said more than 500 people have been evacuated from it. But the containment of this fire increased to 40% as firefighters Increase containment lines About the fire and continued to protect the buildings in the area.
Cal Fire says 88 homes were destroyed as well as 18 outbuildings. But that number is expected to rise as the difference in property valuations continues in Lincoln Heights, a historic black neighborhood in the grasses, as well as Chastina Lake.
mill fire map
Sources: US Department of the Interior, IRWIN, NIFC, NASA, NOAA and Esri
The mountain fire overnight spread over nearly 2,000 acres and burned 10,338 acres by Monday morning. The fire led to the evacuation of 332 residents after a new round of evictions was issued on Sunday. The crew said the fire was kept at 10%.
“The fire is burning in steep terrain and broken in different types of vegetation,” Cal Fire said. “All fuels are at or near critical levels of drought.
“Employees are engaged in defense of the structure and strengthening the lines of control. More resources continue to arrive.”
In an operational briefing to fire crews early Monday, officials said the mountain fire was largely contained in the east wing, but continued to spread to the west.
“The problematic issue … is that the west side of the mountain,” said Justin McComb, COO of Cal Fire. “We have a lot of activity on the mountain.”
He said the fire threatened to cross Moffett Creek in a rugged, wooded area of Siskiyou. “We should hold Moffett Creek if we can,” he said.
Nearly 2,500 firefighters and other personnel were deployed to fight the fires and were dealing with the scorching heat and dry conditions, with temperatures near Wade expected to reach 98 degrees on Monday and 104 on Tuesday. However, forecasts have indicated that winds will not be a factor until at least Wednesday
six people killing In the wildfires this summer in California, they’re all in Siskiyou County. Four died in the McKinney fire in July.
This story was originally published September 5, 2022 7:27 am.
Sam Stanton has worked at The Bee since 1991 and has covered a variety of issues, including politics, criminal justice, and breaking news.
Dale Kasler covers climate change, the environment, the economy, and the complex world of California’s waters. It also covers major corporate stories for McClatchy Western newspapers. He joined The Bee in 1996 from the Des Moines Register and graduated from Northwestern University.
