The Ponderosa fire 22 miles northeast of Red Bluff, California is causing evacuations of thousands of residents near the community of Mandan. According to CAL FIRE 15,000 acres and seven homes have burned since the fire started at around noon on Saturday.
The map above shows heat from the fire that was detected by a satellite Monday afternoon at 1:32 PT. The dark red squares indicate heat that was detected within the previous six hours.
At 7 a.m. Monday, CAL FIRE announced the following evacuations in the Manton, Shingletown & Viola areas:
- Forward Rd at Graham to the C Line
- Forward Mill Rd from Rock Creek Rd to Forward Camp Rd
- Rock Creek Rd from Manton Rd to Long Hay Flat Rd
- All of Long Hay Flat Rd and Woodcutter Way
- Southside of Highway 44 from Viola to Brush Oak
- Northside of Hwy 44 from Viola to Alward
- Hazen Rd area and South Power House Rd south of Manton
- Hwy 44 at Brush Oak east to and including Viola, Plateau Pines, Starlight Pines and Lake McCumber area
- South side of Hwy 44 from Viola to Brush Oak and on the north side of Hwy 44 from Viola to Alward.
In addition, CAL FIRE warned people in the area of Highway 36 at Oasis Springs Road to Lassen Lodge on both sides of the highway, which includes Ponderosa Sky Ranch, Canyon View Loop area and Lassen Lodge, of a potential threat to life and property. An evacuation warning considers the probability that an area will be affected and prepares people for a potential evacuation order.
The weather through Tuesday will not be extreme, but the wind direction will shift several times pushing the fire in various directions, challenging firefighters to remain safe. Monday night the wind will be out of the southwest at 6-10 mph, shifting to the southeast and then from the east Tuesday morning, and finally changing to a 13 mph southwest wind by noon on Tuesday.
