REDDING, Calif. (KGTV) - A raging wildfire burning in Northern California's Shasta County claimed the life of a Redding firefighter and a private hire bulldozer operator, according to Cal Fire.
In a statement, Cal Fire officials said of the firefighter's death:
“The Carr Fire Unified Incident Commanders from CAL FIRE, National Park Service as well as the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office are deeply saddened to report the death of a City of Redding Firefighter.
Fact finding on the accident is ongoing and notification of the next of kin is in progress. The Carr fire continues to burn at a rapid rate with extreme erratic fire behavior. More information will be released as it becomes available.”
Three firefighters were also injured while fighting the out-of-control Carr Fire near Redding.
As of 6:30 a.m. Friday, the fire has burned 44,450 acres and is 3 percent contained. On the Cal Fire site, mechanical failure of a vehicle is cited as the cause of the fire.
10News' Northern California ABC affiliates reported Thursday that the fire jumped the Sacramento River and evacuations were in place for areas in Redding.
KRCR News Channel 7 in Redding got the order to evacuate while still on-air Thursday night. They worked to evacuate while a static shot streamed from a camera in town.
EVACUATIONS:
- South along Swasey Drive from Highway 299 to Placer Road
- West along Placer Road from Swasey Drive to Prospect Drive
- North from Prospect Drive to encompass Middle Park Ranch Land Area
- West to Overhill Drive and North of Highway 299
- North of Highway 299 and West of Spinmaker Road to the end of Harlan Drive
- Keswick Dam East to Counter Lane, North to Quartz Rd
- The community of French Gulch is under an Evactuation Order.
- Residents along SR 299 west of Trinity Mountain Rd to the base of Buckhorn Summit are also under evacuation order.
- Residents along Whiskey Creek Rd to include the boat launch/day use areas are evactuated.
CLOSURES:
- SR 299W closure for westbound traffic now at Buenaventura Blvd. Closure to eastbound traffic remains at Buckhorn Summit.
Residents located east of Trinity Mountain Road use evacuation center located at Shasta College 11555 Old Oregon Trail in Redding. Residents located west of Trinity Mountain Road use evacuation center located at Weaverville Elementary School 31020 HWY 3 in Weaverville.
Animal evacuation centers:
Large Animal – Redding Rodeo Grounds 715 Auditorium Drive Redding, Ca.
Small Animal – Haven Humane 9417 East Side Drive Redding, Ca.
SHELTER:
Residents located east of Trinity Mountain Road use evacuation center located at Shasta College 11555 Old Oregon Trail in Redding. Residents located west of Trinity Mountain Road use evacuation center located at Weaverville Elementary School 31020 HWY 3 in Weaverville.
A large animal evacuation center is open at the Redding Rodeo Grounds on 715 Auditorium Drive in Redding. A small animal evacuation center is open at Haven Humane on 9417 East Side Drive in Redding.
For the latest information on evacuations and acreage, visit the Cal Fire website.
