Wildfire Today

News and opinion about wildland fire

Wildfire Today

Tag: Carr Fire

Carr Fire: threat to Lewiston increases, Redding area improves

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , 2 Comments on Carr Fire: threat to Lewiston increases, Redding area improves

The fire has destroyed 1,018 residences near Redding, California

(UPDATED AT 8:54 a.m. PDT August 1, 2018)

Tuesday the Carr Fire, west of Redding, California, was active on the southwest, west, and north sides, to bring the total blackened acres up to 121,000, according to a mapping flight Tuesday night.

CAL FIRE has updated the number of structures impacted by the fire. Destroyed were 1,018 residences, 12 commercial structures, and 435 outbuildings. Buildings damaged included 181 residences, 6 commercial structures and 61 outbuildings.

map carr fire redding california
Map showing the perimeter of the Carr Fire, the red line, at 11:15 p.m. PDT July 31, 2018. The white line was the perimeter 27 hours before. Click to enlarge.

To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Carr Fire, including the most recent, click here.

(Originally published at noon PDT July 31, 2018)

Firefighters have made a great deal of progress on the Carr Fire, resulting in no appreciable growth during the last two days within seven miles of the west edge of Redding.

On Sunday and Monday the west side of the fire saw significant expansion from the area west of Shasta Bally Road going clockwise around the west and north sides to a point 4 miles west of Shasta Lake. The fire is 3 miles east of Trinity Lake and 4 miles east of Lewiston. At a Tuesday morning briefing officials said there is “a direct threat to Lewiston”. CAL FIRE is calling it 110,154 acres.

map carr fire
Map showing the perimeter of the Carr Fire at 8:30 p.m. PDT July 30, 2018. The white line was the perimeter two days before. Click to enlarge.

According to the latest information, the number of structures destroyed includes 884 residences, 4 commercial structures, and 348 outbuildings. At least 2,546 remain threatened.

map structures destroyed carr fire redding california
To see an interactive, zoomable CAL FIRE map showing the locations of destroyed and damaged structures on the Carr Fire, CLICK HERE.

The Sheriff’s office confirmed that another fatality has been found on the Carr Fire, bringing the total up to six. The latest was a 60-year old man who recently had heart surgery. Other deaths include two firefighters, and a great grandmother and two grandchildren she was caring for. Another seven people have been reported missing.

Many areas have been repopulated, but others are still under evacuation orders.

Helicopters and air tankers have been prevented at times from dropping water and retardant on the fire by an inversion that traps smoke, at times decreasing the visibility to a point where it is unsafe for the aircraft to fly as required, low and slow over complex terrain.

Resources assigned to the fire include 334 fire engines, 59 hand crews, 17 helicopters, 68 dozers, and 65 water tenders, for a total of 3,607 personnel.

Carr Fire still spreading, but away from Redding

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , 11 Comments on Carr Fire still spreading, but away from Redding

Above: The red line on the map shows the perimeter of the southeast side of the Carr Fire near Igo as determined by heat sensors on an aircraft at 10:21 p.m. PDT July 28, 2019. The red shaded areas indicate intense heat. The yellow line was the perimeter about 20 hours before.

(Originally published at 5:36 a.m. PDT July 29, 2018)

Firefighters on the Carr Fire are getting a handle on the portion of the blaze that burned into the west side of Redding, California, but it is still spreading away from the city to the south, west, and north.

map Carr Fire Redding
The red line shows the perimeter of the Carr Fire as determined by heat sensors on an aircraft at 10:21 p.m. PDT July 28, 2019. The red shaded areas indicate intense heat. The yellow line was the perimeter about 20 hours before.

Saturday’s additional growth added another 15,000 acres to bring the total size to about 95,000 acres. Southwest of Redding it burned through the Igo area, crossing Placer Road. At 10:21 PDT Saturday it remained east of Cloverdale Road and had progressed south to Clear Creek Road. North of Igo the fire spread about a mile to the southwest on Saturday.

To see all of the articles about the Carr Fire, including the most current, click HERE.

On the northwest side, by Saturday night the fire had come to within five air miles of Lewiston and Trinity Lake and moved about three miles further west along Highway 299, burning on both sides.

map Carr Fire Redding
The red line shows the perimeter of the east side of the Carr Fire near Redding as determined by heat sensors on an aircraft at 10:21 p.m. PDT July 28, 2019. The red shaded areas indicate intense heat. The yellow line was the perimeter about 20 hours before.

The number of fatalities on the Carr Fire rose to five Saturday when officials confirmed that two young children and their great-grandmother were found dead. James Roberts, 5, and Emily Roberts, 4, were stranded with Melody Bledsoe, 70, when the fire ran through the family’s property July 26 outside Redding, California.

That same day two firefighters were also killed at approximately 6:40 pm when a dramatic increase in fire behavior occurred on the east side of the Carr Fire. Entrapped in a burn over were a call when needed contract dozer operator, Don Ray Smith, 81, of Pollock Pines and Redding fire Inspector Jeremy Stoke who had been with the Fire Department since 2004.

CAL FIRE reports that 536 structures have burned, but has not broken the number down by residences and outbuildings.

Resources assigned to the fire include 334 fire engines, 59 hand crews, 17 helicopters, 68 dozers, 65 water tenders, for a total of 3,388 personnel.

The area is under a Red Flag Warning again Sunday. The National Weather Service warns that strong winds up to 30 mph are possible in canyons in the late afternoon and overnight, but the forecast for the southeast part of the fire indicates the winds generally will be variable at 3 to 7 mph. Humidity in some areas could reach into the single digits while the temperature will be over 100 degrees. This hot, dry, trend will most likely last into mid-week.

Red Flag Warning, July 29, 2018 Redding
Red Flag Warning, July 29, 2018.

Death count rises to five in Carr Fire

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , , , 3 Comments on Death count rises to five in Carr Fire

The two firefighters killed have been identified

The number of fatalities on the Carr Fire rose to five Saturday July 28 when officials confirmed that two young children and their great-grandmother were found dead. James Roberts, 5, and Emily Roberts, 4, were stranded with Melody Bledsoe, 70, when the fire ran through the family’s property July 26 outside Redding, California.

To see all of the articles about the Carr Fire, including the most current, click HERE.

That same day two firefighters were also killed at approximately 6:40 pm when a dramatic increase in fire behavior occurred on the east side of the Carr Fire. Entrapped in a burn over were a call when needed contract dozer operator, Don Ray Smith, 81, of Pollock Pines and Redding fire Inspector Jeremy Stoke who had been with the Fire Department since 2004.

Also on July 26 three firefighters from Marin County were injured on the fire. They were treated at a hospital in Redding for burns to the ears, face, and hands, the department’s release said. One is receiving additional evaluation at the UC Davis Burn Center.

Our sincere condolences go out to the families, friends, and co-workers of these eight victims.

Carr Fire more than doubles in size near Redding, California

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , , 28 Comments on Carr Fire more than doubles in size near Redding, California

CAL FIRE reports 500 structures have been destroyed

(Originally published at 9:10 a.m. PDT July 28, 2018)

Carr Fire Igo
The Carr Fire, posted July 28 by the Igo Ono Fire Department.

Firefighters on Friday were able to minimize any additional growth of the Carr Fire into Redding but the fire spread significantly on the north and sides. Thursday night CAL FIRE reported the fire had burned 28,000 acres. A  1:45 a.m. mapping flight on Saturday showed it had expanded to over 80,000 acres.

To see all articles about the Carr Fire on Wildfire today including the most current, click here.

Early Saturday morning the fire was very active two to five miles south of Highway 299 burning toward Placer Road near Igo, and on the north side of 299 it had grown five miles north of French Gulch.

map Carr Fire
Map showing the perimeter of the Carr Fire at 1:45 a.m. PDT July 28, 2018. The yellow line was the perimeter 25 hours before. Click to enlarge.

Mandatory evacuations affecting 37,000 people and road closures are in effect for numerous locations around Redding.

Two firefighters were killed in the fire. Friday afternoon the Redding Fire Department confirmed that Inspector Jeremy Stoke perished. A bulldozer operator has not yet been identified.

A spokesperson for Mercy Medical Center in Redding, Mike Mangas, said eight people, including three firefighters, were treated for injuries. All were expected to survive.

map carr fire redding
Map showing the east side of the Carr Fire near Redding at 1:45 a.m. PDT July 28, 2018. The yellow line was the perimeter 25 hours before. Click to enlarge.

CAL FIRE reports that 500 structures have been destroyed, but has not broken them down by residences and outbuildings. On Friday an Associated Press reporter counted at least 125 burned homes. Typically on fires like this about 60 to 80 percent of “structures” destroyed are sheds, detached garages, or similar outbuildings.

Below is an excerpt from an AP article:

Located on the western side of Redding, KRCR-TV was forced to go off the air and evacuate their studio in the middle of a Thursday night broadcast. As the fire advanced, a high school that was used to shelter evacuees was suddenly in danger of being in the path of the flames, and evacuees had to move again to Shasta College, according to NBC News.

“When it hit, people were really scrambling,” Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean told the AP. “There was not much of a warning.”

The fire also reportedly burned structures in Shasta, located 10 miles west of Redding, and in Keswick. Early Friday morning, the entire town of Shasta Lake, population 10,000 was ordered to evacuate, the Redding Record Searchlight reported.

The weather forecast for the south part of the Carr Fire near Igo for Saturday calls for a high of 110 degrees, 11 percent relative humidity, and variable winds at 5 to 10 mph gusting up to 13. The conditions should remain about the same through Friday of next week, but with decreasing winds. High temperatures will be above 100 each day.

Red Flag Warning Redding, California
Red Flag Warning for the area around Redding, California.

The Red Flag Warning that was in effect for the Redding area on Friday is still in effect Saturday and is due to expire at 10 a.m. Monday.

Red Flag Warning Redding, California
Details of the Red Flag Warning for the Redding area, current at 6:45 a.m. PDT July 28, 2018.

Carr Fire burns into Redding

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , , 12 Comments on Carr Fire burns into Redding

Two firefighters have been killed while fighting the fire

(UPDATED at 6:16 p.m. PDT July 27, 2018)

perimeter Carr Fire
Map showing the perimeter of the Carr Fire (the red line) based on an infrared mapping flight at 12:34 a.m. PDT July 27, 2018. The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite at 1:36 p.m. PDT July 27, 2018. Click to enlarge.

To see all articles about the Carr Fire on Wildfire today including the most current, click here.

Some people think this rotating column fit the definition of a “fire tornado”:

(UPDATED at 4:25 p.m. PDT July 27, 2018)

An Associated Press reporter has counted at least 125 homes destroyed by the Carr Fire at Redding, California. The official count from CAL FIRE is 65 structures destroyed.

To see all articles about the Carr Fire on Wildfire today including the most current, click here.

Over 800 California National Guard personnel are assisting statewide in a variety of ways. The National Guard is also operating a Reaper Unmanned Aerial System, or drone, that provides real time imagery to help firefighters on the ground to make better decisions.

At least two California National Guard C-130 aircraft have been activated and outfitted with Modular Airborne FireFighting Systems (MAFFS), able to drop up to 3,000 gallons of retardant.

Many areas around Redding are under mandatory evacuation orders.

(UPDATED at 10:09 a.m. PDT July 27, 2018)

CAL FIRE, the National Park Service, and the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office announced at 7:15 a.m. Friday July 27 that a second firefighter has died on the Carr Fire near Redding California. Pending notification of next of kin, they have not released the person’s name, only that the firefighter worked for the Redding Fire Department.

Earlier Friday morning CAL FIRE reported that a contractor operating a dozer had been killed.

An update at 8:10 a.m Friday from CAL FIRE included the information that the Carr Fire has destroyed 65 structures, but did not indicate whether any of them were residences. The agency is now calling it 44,450 acres, up from the 28,000 figure released Thursday night.

The weather forecast for the northwest side of Redding for Friday calls for 102 degrees, heat index of 108, single-digit relative humidity, and variable winds 3 to 13 mph. Similar conditions are expected through Monday. The lack of strong winds and zero chance of thunderstorms is good news for firefighters, but the heat and low relative humidity will continue to be a problem. A Red Flag Warning is in effect Friday for the fire area.

Continue reading “Carr Fire burns into Redding”