Carr Fire: 6 Dead In Shasta County Blaze As 95K Acres Burn

SHASTA COUNTY, CA -- A Northern California blaze that sparked six days ago killed six people and has burned 95,368 acres so far. The Carr Fire is just 17 percent contained.

The Associated Press reported the blaze, which displaced 38,000 residents, killed at least six people as of Sunday. Two of the deceased were firefighters, while the others were identified as James Roberts, 5, Emily Roberts, 4, and their great-grandmother Melody Bledsoe, 70. Another person, whose name has not been released, was found inside a home, according to officials.

Associated Press reported the three were stranded "when walls of flames swept through the family’s rural property Thursday on the outskirts of Redding." A sixth person was confirmed dead Sunday afternoon, but officials did not offer details.

Another dozen people have been reported missing, but Shasta County Sheriff's officials are hopeful to find some alive.

Cal Fire officials said 536 structures were destroyed while 117 were damaged. Another 5,000 structures remain threatened as more than 3,300 personnel work to contain the blaze, described as one of the worst in California history by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Reclamation, which manages public water in the region, warned that water levels in the Lewiston Reservoir and in the Trinity River could fluctuate Sunday evening due to emergency water releases associated with the Carr Fire. Anyone near the water should take precautions, the agency warned.

The fire erupted by a vehicle Monday afternoon near the intersection of Highway 299 and Carr Powerhouse Road in Whiskeytown, before making its way to Redding and other parts of the county. It was just one of several blazes to burn through California this weekend as President Trump declared a federal emergency.

Elsewhere in the state, crews were still battling the Ferguson Fire, which prompted the temporary closure of parts of Yosemite National Forest and killed two firefighters. Mendocino County saw two wildfires this weekend that burned through four homes, the Cranston Fire in San Bernardino National Forest had forced the evacuation of thousands of residents, and the Rock Fire threatened more than 100 homes after igniting in San Diego County on Saturday afternoon.

Cal Fire said crews from Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado were assisting in the wildfires, while crews from Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico and Oregon were en route. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!)

In the Carr Fire, evacuations were ordered for the following locations:

• Community of French Gulch
• SR 299 west of Trinity Mountain Rd to the base of Buckhorn Summit
• Whiskey Creek Rd to include the boat launch/day use areas
• South along Swasey Dr from SR299 to Placer Rd
• West along Placer Rd from Swasey Dr to Prospect Dr
• North from Prospect Dr to encompass Middle Park Ranch Land Area
• West of Overhill Dr and North of SR 299
• North of SR 299 and West of Spinmaker Rd to the end of Harlan Dr
• Keswick Dam East to Counter Lane, North to quartz Hill Rd
• North of Sacramento River to Keswick Dam Rd, West of Market Street and Lake Blvd to Keswick Dam
• North at Lake Blvd and Oasis Rd to Pine Grove Ave and Walker Mine Rd west of Cascade Rd/ I-5
• Pine Grove Ave North on Lake Blvd to Shasta Dam incorporating Summit City, North Belt Line and Flannigan Rd Intersection of Placer Rd and Buenaventura Blvd west to Thompson Lane
• Buenaventura Blvd from Placer Rd to Westside Rd
• Westside Rd to Keyon Drive incorporating Country Heights and West Redding neighborhood
• Buenaventura Blvd to SR 299 to Placer Rd
• Placer Road from Buenaventura Blvd to Cloverdale Rd
• Cloverdale Rd from Placer Rd to Clear Creek Rd
• Clear Creek Rd West from Cloverdale Rd to Honey Bee Rd
• Shasta Dam Visitor Center
• All of Shasta Dam Blvd
• All of Shasta Lake City Placer Rd from the Clear Creek Bridge to Clear Creek Rd
• Placer Rd at Platina Rd to Buell Rd which includes South Fork Rd, Zogg Mine Road, Jenny Bird Lane, Horse Canyon Rd and all residents West of Platina Rd between Placer Rd and Buell Rd
• All areas on South Fork Road from Zogg Mine Rd to South Fork Road to include the areas of Bender Rd, Serenity Dr and Serenity Way
• Hwy 299 at Trinity Dam Road west to Douglas City
• Trinity Dam Road Blvd to Hwy 3 including all residences within Lewiston area to Trail Drive, Biggers Road, Steel Bridge Road, Lower Steel Bridge Road, Poker Bar Road, River Road, Quad P Road, Bridge Road, Red Lane, Old Highway, Lewiston Road, Ohio Lane, Lowden Way, Ponderosa Pines, River Front Road, Wellock Road, S. Ponderosa Pine, Coffin Road, Dirt Road, Benvenuto Way, Browns Mountain Road, Mountain Springs Road, Jobe Way, Steelhead Circle, Rebel Road, Quail Point Road, Lockhart Ranch Road, Prut Road, Upper Salt Flat Road, Salt Flat Road, Goose Ranch Road, Dredger Lane, Bacham Lane, Partridge Lane, Shady Lane, River Rock Road, Old Oak Road, Gulch Road and Lewiston Turn Pike Road
• All roads and streets west of Trinity Dam Blvd and east of Lewiston Road Deadwood Road east of Trinity Dam Blvd.
• All residences on Baker Road including Cooper Gulch, Posey Road, Lakeview Terrace and Pine Cove Marina including Eagle Mountain Road

Evacuation Centers were established at:

• Shasta College at 11555 Old Oregon Trail in Redding
• Simpson University at 2211 College View Drive in Redding
• Cross Point Community Church at 2960 Hartnell Ave in Redding
• Trinity High School at 321 Victory Lane Weaverville, CA 96093

Also See:

• Trump Signs Emergency Declaration As California Battles Wildfires

Photo courtesy of CalFire