Friday, July 27, 2018

2 killed, evacuations mount as destructive Carr Fire blazes into Redding, California

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist
July 27, 2018, 11:28:50 PM EDT


The Carr Fire burning in Northern California exploded in size and turned deadly, as it reached the western outskirts of Redding, California, on Thursday night.
Late Thursday, a bulldozer operator was killed while working to clear vegetation in the path of the blaze, according to a statement from Cal Fire. Three firefighters have suffered burns.
Officials announced early Friday that a Redding city firefighter had died battling the blaze, bringing the death toll to two.
The wildfire, which has consumed nearly 44,450 acres with minimal containment, jumped the Sacramento River on Thursday night and headed toward the city of Redding, which is home to nearly 92,000 people.
Nearly 5,000 structures are threatened. At least 500 structures have been destroyed, while another 75 were damaged. 
carr fire 72718

Redding city officials said that thousands are currently without power. Redding Electric Utility announced that power was shut off to most of north Redding at the request of fire authorities and to maintain system stability.
"Restoration time of the outage is unknown at this point, but please know that Redding Electric Utility is doing all it can to maintain system integrity while keeping the needs of the residents of Redding in mind," the utility said.
The Carr Fire ignited on Monday, July 23, after the mechanical failure of a vehicle, according to Cal Fire. 
Carr Fire AP
A structure burns as the Carr Fire races along Highway 299 near Redding, Calif., on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

The blaze reportedly tripled in size amid continued dry, hot and windy conditions.
As the fire became more active, the number of mandatory evacuations grew, with many residents forced to leave in a matter of minutes. Mile-long traffic jams were reported on area roadways.
Carr Fire Chief Unified Incident Commander Chief Brett Gouvea said late Thursday that fire was moving "extremely quickly and erratically into western Redding" and that additional firefighter and civilian injuries have occurred.
Many firefighters turned their attention from battling the blaze to helping people flee the flames. 

Five babies in the Mercy Medical Center neonatal intensive care unit were evacuated to medical facilities outside of the area as the flames approached, according to the Associated Press.
“Really we’re in a life-saving mode right now in Redding,” Jonathan Cox, battalion chief with Cal Fire, said via the AP. “We’re not fighting a fire. We’re trying to move people out of the path of it because it is now deadly and it is now moving at speeds and in ways we have not seen before in this area.”
Over 1,700 total personnel are working to contain the blaze.
Dozens of boats on Whiskeytown Lake, located about 10 miles west of Redding, were burned. 
Carr Fire AP 7/27
An historic schoolhouse burns as the Carr Fire tears through Shasta, Calif., Thursday, July 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

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