2017 Fire Season

It’s been a busy couple of days for fire fighters in Northern California. At least five new fires started over the weekend in the region over the weekend – many were in the North State.

According to Cal Fire, the largest started late Sunday morning in Lassen County off Willard Creek Road west of Susanville. Dubbed the Willard Fire, it’s still estimated to be 2,500 acres in size. Current containment is unknown.

As of now Cal Fire reports mandatory evacuations for that fire are in effect for Cheney Creek near Highway 36.

Cal Fire units are responding to a just reported vegetation fire near Oroville. According to Cal Fire’s Butte County unit, the fire is centered on the 100 block of Lakeland Boulevard. A witness reported seeing thick smoke and structure in flames. 

A total of 400 firefighters continue fighting Butte County’s Saddle Fire, which is now considered 70 percent contained. All evacuations have been lifted, all shelters closed and all roads have reopened.  

The fire remains at 850 acres in size. The cause of the blaze has been traced to a vehicle with a faulty exhaust system. The fire at one time, came close to threatening the city of Paradise and its 25,000 residents.

Updated 4:22 p.m. Sept. 7

The size of the 850-acre Saddle Fire in Butte County has not increased in 24 hours, and significant progress has been made by fire crews to strengthen containment — now at 50 percent.

One evacuation order remains in place for both sides of Pentz Road between Lago Vista Way on the south edge of Paradise and Mesilla Valley Road in Butte Valley. All evacuations will be lifted by 6 p.m. Wednesday.

An evacuation shelter at the Neighborhood Church in Chico remains open.

Firefighters streamed into the Trinity Alps throughout the day Thursday, joining the battle against the large Gap Fire in Siskiyou County. Authorities, who have been fighting the growing conflagration since Saturday, estimate that it is 10 percent contained.

More than 1,800 firefighters have been deployed. The fire’s cause remains unknown and under investigation. The fire has burned through more than 18,000 acres. Officials say the fire is particularly tenacious as it is burning through an area where fires have been successfully suppressed for many years.

Despite the efforts of more than 1,500 firefighters, the Gap Fire continues growing in a remote part of Siskiyou County.

The blaze, first reported Saturday, now exceeds 17,000 acres and is 8 percent contained. Officials with the US Forest service say, strong erratic winds, heavy fuel loads and drought conditions have set the stage for a difficult battle.

A wildfire burning in the Trinity Alps has forced the partial closure of State Highway 96 about 30 miles east of Happy Camp.

Caltrans has instituted one way traffic controls along a six miles of highway east of the intersection with Scott River Road.

The Gap Fire, initially reported Saturday evening about five miles east of Seiad, now exceeds 8,800 acres.

Horse Creek and Hamburg have been ordered evacuated. An evacuation advisory has been issued for Scott’s Bar. An emergency shelter has been opened in Yreka at the Siskiyou County Golden Fairgrounds.

In Butte County, the Santos Fire burning south of Forest Ranch is now 70 percent contained. The 89-acre fire erupted Friday afternoon. It shut down Highway 32 and caused evacuations in Upper Bidwell Park. Currently all evacuations have been lifted. Highway 32 is now open to one-lane traffic.

Updated Friday, Aug 26, at 9:32 a.m.

A forest fire burning in Siskiyou County has nearly doubled in size since Thursday evening, though firefighters have made significant progress containing the blaze.

One hundred fifty structures remain threatened near Yreka where the Grade Fire has burned thorough 710 acres. The fire is 65 percent contained.

Evacuation orders and road closures in the area have been lifted for residents.

More than 10,000 firefighters battled wildfires Monday from California's Central Coast to Sierra Nevada forests or mopped up remnants of destructive blazes beaten into submission up and down the state.

Cal Fire says about 1,900 structures were threatened by the 33,000-acre blaze Chimney Fire in coastal San Luis Obispo County, where more than 2,400 people were under evacuation orders.

Here's a round-up of the current conditions of California wildfires: