UPDATED (with photos): Ponderosa Fire grows to 12,000 acres, threatens 3,000 homes; evacuation centers moved to Redding
The Ponderosa Fire has grown to 12,000 acres with no containment and destroyed seven homes, fire officials said this afternoon.
"It's growing rapidly," said Mary Ann Aldrich, a public information officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Aldrich said the blaze is burning northeast out of Manton from foothills into steeper terrain, burning grass, brush and some timber on Sierra Pacific Industries and Collins Companies properties.
Some 3,000 homes are now considered threatened by the fire as more homeowners are being evacuated from Manton and Shingletown, prompting Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko to declare a "state of emergency" for his fire-ravaged jurisdiction.
It's unclear whose homes have been destroyed, with fire officials saying there won't be any formal notification until Monday at the earliest.
Paul Lowenthal, a public information officer for the fire, said some homes have been "obliterated," while others miraculously were unscathed by the blaze.
Firefighters currently are preparing to defend a cluster of homes on the 7500 block of Long Hay Flat Road in Viola as light ash is raining down in the area.
The Shasta County Sheriff's Office has expanded the Highway 44 closure to Forest Service Rd. 32N17, which is closed to westbound traffic. It was closed at Big Wheels and then at Brush Oak and east to Viola.
Two evacuation centers previously set up for the lightning-sparked fire are now being combined in Redding.
Both the Junction Elementary School and Manton School evacuation centers are being combined at Big League Dreams in Redding, said Eric Kiltz, coordinator of Emergency Services with the Northeastern Calif. Chapter of the American Red Cross.
As of Saturday night, the fire was 7,000 acres and threatening some 500 homes, officials estimated, with four already destroyed as residents of Shingletown and other nearby areas were being evacuated.
The incident website for the fire also says 20 commercial properties and 300 outbuildings are threatened.
A cluster of streets in the Shingletown and Manton areas were evacuated Saturday, and Aldrich said additional residents are being evacuated from the area of Highway 44 at Airport Parkway east to and including Viola, Plateau Pines, Starlite Pines and McCumber, as well as Hazen Road and South Powerhouse Road south of Manton.
Bob Folsom, a resident of Ponderosa Way who did not evacuate the area, said no homes on that road north of the Monastery of St. John burned.
Another resident of Ponderosa Way, Wayne Wyckoff, patrolled the area this afternoon on his quad to look out for his neighbors.
"I've been sticking around here since it started," he said. "I'm just making sure all the neighbors are OK."
The VCA Animal Hospital on Hilltop Drive was accepting dogs and cats that had to be evacuated from the fire, but ran out of room. The hospital can refer owners of larger animals to temporary shelters, said Joni Richard, a receptionist.
The VCA Animal Hospital in Anderson at 2006 Barney Road is still taking small animals, though.
Manton School will be closed Monday because of the fire, said Supt. Roxy Williams, but she didn't know how long the school will remain closed.
Around 30 to 40 people are currently gathering there to seek shelter from the fire, some bringing their dogs and horses with them.
Aldrich said Manton Road and all roads leading to the town also are closed now.
Mary Goings, a volunteer for Calfire, said Saturday's evacuation orders are still in effect.
"They're not going to be lifted," she said.
Dick Goings, a fire information officer for the fire, said evacuations will be in place until Monday at the earliest.
Mary Goings said one firefighter so far has been injured from the blaze, but the injury was minor.
In addition, Mary Goings said, fire crews won't know until Monday at the earliest which homes have been destroyed.
The information line for the fire may be flooded with callers looking for updates on the wildfire that broke Saturday morning as the blaze continues to ravage eastern Shasta and Tehama county forests this morning.
Linda Galvan, a public information officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said the information center for the fire has only four lines.
"We've only got four lines in there. That's all we've got," she said. "I know it's been really, really busy."
Multiple calls made this morning by the Record Searchlight were met with a busy signal until shortly before 8 a.m.
Check back for updates.
FIRE INFORMATION:
Call the Ponderosa Fire information line at (530) 225-2510 for fire, evacuation and road closure information. The line is available 24 hours a day. Due to fire activity, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ask people not to call area fire stations directly.
Evacuation Centers
Evacuation centers are available at Manton Elementary School, 31345 Forward Road, in Manton and Big League Dreams, 20155 Viking Way, in Redding.
Help with small animals
Displaced residents with small animals can take their pets to the VCA Asher Animal Hospital 2006 Barney Road in Anderson. The VCA Hospital on Hilltop is full, but can refer owners of large animals, such as horses. The phone number is 224-2200.
On the Internet, go to fire.ca.gov for local and statewide Cal Fire information.
ROAD CLOSURES/EVACUATIONS:
The Shasta County and Tehama County sheriff's offices have closed these roads:
Highway 44 between Viola and Lake McCumber
Forward Road and Graham Road to C Line
Ponderosa Way and Forward Road
The south side of Highway 44 between Rock Creek Road and Sites Road
The Lake McCumber area
Wilson Road east to Viola
Forward Mills from Rock Creek Road to Camp Forward Road
Rock Creek Road to Long Hay Flat Road
All of Long Hay Flat Road and Woodcutter Road
Highway 44 at Airport Parkway east, including Viola, Plateau Pines, Starlite Pines and McCumber
Hazen Road and South Powerhouse Road south of Manton
Source: http://www.redding.com/news/2012/aug/19/ponderosa-fire-info-line-flooded-calls/
--
Read my blog at http://eclecticarcania.blogspot.com/
My Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/derkimster
Linkedin profile: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kim-noyes/9/3a1/2b8
Follow me on Twitter @DisasterKim
__._,_.___
No comments:
Post a Comment