Clover Fire continues to grow; first fatality reported
- By Joe Szydlowski | Redding Record-Searchlight
- Posted September 11, 2013 at 7:54 p.m.
Authorities Wednesday identified a man who died just days after his birthday in the Clover Fire, which now has scorched 7,993 acres and burned more than 120 structures near Igo and Happy Valley.
Brian Stanley Henry, who turned 55 on Saturday, was found dead in his home in the 14000 block of Coal Pit Road Tuesday night, said Mo Hern, a spokeswoman for the Shasta County Coroner's Office.
Hern said Henry's body was found burned after his family requested authorities check on him.
His home had burned down as well, one of 37 destroyed by the Clover Fire, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
On Monday, the two small blazes near Clear Creek water district tanks exploded southwest across 10.5 square miles from its origin near the intersection of Clear Creek and Cloverdale roads. Cause of the fires remains under investigation.
The fire has grown around 1,000 acres since — its northern side lies along Clear Creek Road while its western edge hugs Gas Point Road south of Placer Road.
The fire's border then snakes to the northeast toward Cloverdale Road near Dale Lane.
Flames have destroyed 111 other buildings and damaged four homes, Cal Fire said.
Wednesday night it was 50 percent contained, mostly along the northern edge. Fire crews hope to have the blaze contained by Sunday.
Evacuations along Gas Point Road near the Northern California Veteran's Cemetery and other side streets that just east off of Gas Point Road remain in effect as do all road closures.
Henry's body was found Tuesday night — he had not evacuated, said Hern with the coroner's office.
Shasta County sheriff's Lt. Janet Breshears said deputies went to the home after they received a call from family members concerned about Henry. When deputies arrived they didn't find anything at the scene to indicate he had been the victim of a crime, she said.
"At this point, it doesn't look like a crime. At this point, there's no other reason to believe it was caused by anything other than the fire," Breshears said.
Sheriff Tom Bosenko just before 3 p.m. on Monday confirmed a report of someone trapped in his or her home and being surrounded by fire.
Scanner communications at that time indicated a family was trapped on Ridgetop Road and people were rescued from Bradley Ridge Road. Rescuers couldn't get to people who were at the end of that road and advised them to take shelter.
Bosenko said his personnel were having trouble accessing parts of Small Farms Drive and Coal Pit Road.
Evacuations of Bradley Ridge Road, Coal Pit Road and Family Way were ordered shortly before 2 p.m. Monday, about 1 1/2 hours after the fire started.
Bosenko said the fire was jumping roads his personnel needed to access, preventing them from making evacuations.
"To get to it (the house), they had to get to another road," he said.
Wednesday an investigator for Cal Fire was at the home where Henry's body was found. Sheriff's deputies put up crime scene tape across Coal Pit Road about a half-mile from the residence.
Breshears said her office has received numerous calls from concerned family members worried about loved ones they hadn't heard from since the fire started. Deputies drive to the property to investigate to make sure no one is injured, she said. Sometimes the family member is not in the fire area, she said.
The property where Henry was found includes a mobile home, according to documents filed with the Shasta County Assessor Recorder's Office.
The mobile home appears to be the only dwelling on the property.
Hern said the investigation into Henry's death is ongoing and did not provide a cause of death.
Henry is the only person who has been found dead in the fire's aftermath, Hern said.
Coroner's officials had been out at the fire Monday and Tuesday, Breshears said, but they were helping deputies secure the area.
Firefighters can expect the favorable conditions through the weekend, said Darren Van Cleave, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
"We had really good conditions (Wednesday) — not quite as good the next few days, but not that bad," Van Cleave said.
The humidity will hover around 20 percent, while the winds will be light and won't excessively dry out fuels, he said.
Temperatures will gradually rise to around 100 degrees for Saturday, but the other conditions will stick around, he said.
The light winds will continue because there are no nearby systems to disrupt the weather, he said.
Those wishing to help can donate to the Salvation army by visiting www.gosalarmy.org, calling 1 (800) Sal-Army or sending checks to The Salvation Army, 2691 Larkspur Lane, Redding, CA 96002. Donations by mail can be designated "Clover Fire." Reporters Damon Arthur and Jenny Espino contributed to this story.
Source: http://www.redding.com/news/2013/sep/11/clover-fire-continues-to-grow-first-fatality/--
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