[californiadisasters] Update On Fires Burning In Red Bluff

Update on fires burning in Red Bluff

By JULIE ZEEB -Daily News Staff Writer

Updated:   06/03/2013 07:17:43 PM PDT

A fire in the East Sand Slough in Red Bluff sent flames shooting into the air Monday afternoon, prompting the closure of Antelope Boulevard at Sale Lane and several air drops by airplane and helicopter. While several structures were destroyed or damaged in the Sale fire and another about a half-mile south, there were no serious injuries reported. (DN - Zeeb)

Smoke billowed out of both sides of Antelope Bouleavard's East Sand slough bridge Monday afternoon, burning several acres between Interstate 5 and Sale Lane.

The fire, which burned at least 50 acres by 4 p.m., according to CalFire Public Information Officer Kevin Colburn, was one of two to burn Monday afternoon just east of the Sacramento River in Red Bluff with several structures destroyed.

Initially reported at five acres, the Sale Lane fire burned 110 acres and four multi-family dwellings were damaged, Colburn said. There were about 200 personnel on scene.

The first fire was a fire at Peachtree Lane near Gilmore Ranch Road reported just before 2 p.m. Monday.

As of 3 p.m. it had destroyed two mobile

homes and one storage building, with another mobile home threatened. It was contained about 5:15 p.m.

William Carlton was at work, but his wife, Denise, and two grandchildren, Alexis, 6, and Aiden, 4, were home at the time.

"God it went up so fast," Carlton said.

All residents and two dogs were able to get out. Carlton said his cat was still missing.

The Sale Lane fire sparked around 2:45 p.m., according to scanner reports, in the area of 111 Sale Lane near Antelope Boulevard. It prompted the evacuation of the Best Western Inn nearby and at one point prevented even foot traffic from Cabernet Apartments.

Fire units were being called in from throughout Tehama County and beyond to battle the blazes. CalFire and United States Forest Service personnel responded with Tehama County Sheriff's Department and Red Bluff Police helping with traffic control and evacuations.

Witness reports some units at the 111 Sale Lane apartment complex were burned. Red Bluff Police Cpl. Kevin Hale said at least one buidling had several units burned to the point of being uninhabitable.

An ambulance was called for at least two people, one with a diabetic complication and another with smoke

inhalation, but it was unknown whether they were transported from the scene, Hale said. Several elderly persons were having trouble with breathing.

There were no serious injuries that Hale was aware of, but the area under the slough is known to be heavily populated by transients and there could be injuries there, Hale said.

Just before 4 p.m., the fire was moving down Sale Lane in the heavy vegetation, some of which was close to the sidewalk, sending thick smoke and ash toward Gilmore Ranch Road.

Antelope Boulevard was closed at Sale Lane with no one from the Cabernet Apartments, where the front grass leading into the complex had several small spot fires, allowed out even on foot due to the proximity of the

fire.

Air drops were called in by firefighters with at least seven to 10 coming from a tanker plane and helicopter.

Antelope was reopened to traffic about 5:45 p.m. and residents were allowed back in to the Cabernet complex about 5:30 p.m. The cause of both fires is under investigation.

A Red Bluff Police car assigned to Sgt. Kevin Busekist caught fire while parked on the side of Sale Lane, but the damage was minimal and he was able to get out, Det. Brett McAllister said.

The fire did get into at least two other buidlings including the Rockin' R Restaurant and the Super 8 Motel, but the extent of damage was unknown, a Tehama County Sheriff's deputy said.

A group of students was at the Sacramento River Discovery Center at the end of Sale Lane on a field trip at the time of the fires, but reports say the children were removed safely from the area.

Jessica Macdonald was at the Tehama County Farm Bureau doing her Senior Make A Difference Day Project with her mother, Shelley, at work next door at the Northern California Farm Credit when the fire broke.

"It looks like our project may involve cleanup tomorrow," Macdonald said.

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Staff Writer Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115, or at jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com
Follow Julie on Twitter @DN_Zeeb

Source: http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_23381125/update-fires-burning-red-bluff

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