Camp Fire Rages In Butte County, Prompts Evacuations

BUTTE COUNTY, CA – A rapidly-spreading wildfire sparked Thursday in Butte County that scorched thousands of acres, prompted evacuation orders and sent smoke over Northern California.

LATEST: Camp Fire: 70,000 Acres Burned, New Evacuations In Butte County

The blaze, called the Camp Fire, broke out around 6:30 a.m. off Camp Creek and Pulga roads near Highway 70 in the Feather River Canyon, near the town of Paradise, according to Cal Fire. By Thursday evening, the fire had burned 20,000 acres and was 0 percent contained.

Acting Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an emergency proclamation for Butte County due to the blaze, which had destroyed an unknown number of homes and threatened critical infrastructure. As of Thursday evening, roughly 15,000 structures remained threatened.

Firefighters from Cal Fire, the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies across the state assisted in the firefighting efforts. A total of 2,289 firefighters battled the blaze Thursday, including 303 engines, 59 hand crews, 11 helicopters, 24 dozers and 11 water tenders, according to Cal Fire.

Authorities issued evacuation orders for Paradise, Magalia, Concow, Butte Creek Canyon and Butte Valley. (See the full list of evacuation orders and warnings below. Click here for a map of the evacuation zones.)

Adventist Health Feather River Medical Center and the Adventist Health Feather River clinics in Paradise were closed early Thursday due to the fire. Patients were transported to Oroville Hospital in Oroville and Enloe Medical Center in Chico, according to the medical center.

Cal Fire Deputy Chief Scott McClean said the fire has grown with so much intensity it has burned from Magalia on the northern end through the south end of town.

Adventist Health Feather River Medical Center and several structures around it have sparked on fire. Several people have been hospitalized. Buses are carting people off the hill.

McClean is very concerned about the predominant elderly population in the region, wondering if they could get out in time.

"It's gone," McClean said, referring to Paradise, while sounding choked up as he filled his vehicle with gas. "You've got to keep this in mind, this fire was pushed by winds. This is as horrific as it can be."

He explained how the fire burned too fast, too hot. Much of that fire intensity is also from the terrain.

The Feather River Canyon is steep in many places as much as 40 degrees. It's filled with manzanita and madrone, which ignites with a fury. Fire burns faster up hill – right into the town of Paradise.

On Wednesday, Pacific Gas and Electric Company advised Butte County residents that a power shutoff was possible due to fire risks in the area. Other counties advised of the possible cut off included Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Plumas, Yuba, Sierra, Placer and Nevada, officials said.

Cleo Reed, who lives in Paradise, knew it was time to leave when the authorities knocked on her door and it was so black she couldn't see outside.

"It looks like Armageddon, and I'm in Chico now," Reed said.

She was packed in 10 minutes, grabbing her dog, his food, pictures and files. Fortunately, she just returned from a trip and had a duffel bag within reach.

The California Office of Emergency Services secured a fire management assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to essentially throw all possible resources at the Camp Fire.

Wind and smoke were the biggest hindrances.

"We can't use air tankers because the winds are too high and the smoke is too thick, but hopefully when this wind dies down, we'll be able to," Cal OES spokesman Kelly Huston said.

As of Thursday afternoon, fire and emergency agencies were unable to tell the number of homes that had been lost in the blaze.

"There could be dozens if not hundreds of homes lost," Huston said. "Right now the real focus is on saving lives."

Caltrans hoped to contribute to that mission.

The transportation agency closed the major highways in the region because of "zero visibility" in the area, a district spokeswoman said.

Highway 70 in Butte and Plumas counties was closed from the Highway 149 junction to state Route 89, according to Caltrans. The highway was also closed from Highway 32 to the Highway 149 junction.

Southbound Highway 99 was closed from the Highway 32 junction to the Highway 149 junction.

"Caltrans District 3 and 2 are monitoring the fire closely [and] are ready to assist emergency personnel with road closures as needed," District 3 Director Amarjeet Benipal said. "Our thoughts are with the communities that are affected by the fire."

Weather officials issued a red flag warning for the region due to strong winds and low humidity. The warning is in effect until 7 a.m. Friday.

Smoke from the fire spread across Northern California, prompting the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to issue an air quality advisory for the San Francisco Bay Area through Friday.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.

Also see: Wildfire Smoke Triggers Air Quality Advisory Through Friday

Evacuation Orders and Warnings

The Butte County Sheriff's Office has issued the following evacuation orders and warnings:

• Town of Pulga
• All of Pentz Road in Paradise, east to Highway 70
• Zones 2, 6, 7 and 13
• Zones 11 and 12 (evacuation warning)
• South Pine Zone, Old Magalia Zone and the South Coutelenc Zone
• Carnegie Zone, North Pines Zone, North Fir Haven Zone and South Fir Haven Zone
• Nimshew Zone (evacuation warning)
• Lower Neal Zone and Upper Honey Run Zones (evacuation warning)
• Centerville and Butte Creek areas
• Area of Pentz Road and Highway 70, south to 149, including Butte College
• Area of Highway 70 from Concow South, including all of Yankee Hill on both sides of Highway 70
• Lower Clark Zone and Lower Skyway Zone
• Nimshew Zone
• Highway 32 at Nople Avenue down to Chico city limits
• Skyway from Lower Paradise down the Skyway to the Chico city limits (evacuation warning)
• Highway 32 at Nople Avenue up to the Butte County Line (evacuation warning)
• Area west of Highway 99 from Highway 149 north to Chico city limits west to the Midway (evacuation warning)
• Area of Cherokee from Highway 70 to the Lake South to Table Mountain Boulevard
• Area of both sides of Oro Chico Highway from Durham Dayton north to Estates Drive

Click here for a map of the evacuation zones.

Shelters

Evacuation shelters have been opened at the following locations:

• Oroville Church of the Nazarene at 2238 Monte Vista Ave. in Oroville (This shelter is now full.)
• Neighborhood Church of Chico at 2801 Notre Dame Blvd. in Chico (This shelter is now full.)
• Butte County Fairgrounds at 199 E Hazel St. in Gridley
• Chico Elks Lodge at 1705 Manzanita Ave. in Chico
• Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds at 442 Franklin Ave. in Yuba City

Small animals can be taken to Old Oroville Hospital, located at 2279 Del Oro Road, Suite E, in Oroville.

Large animals can be taken to the Butte County Fairgrounds.

An emergency volunteer center has been opened at Caring Choices, located at 1398 Ridgewood Drive in Chico. People interested in volunteering can go to the center or call 530-899-3873.

Traffic

Multiple roads have been closed, including Highway 70, Skyway, Highway 191 and Pentz Road, according to Cal Fire.

As of 12:50 p.m. Thursday, the California Highway Patrol was stopping all northbound traffic on Highway 99 at Highway 149. All lanes of Highway 99 from Skyway south to Highway 149 will be southbound, according to sheriff's officials.

According to Caltrans, Highway 70 in Butte and Plumas counties was closed from the Highway 149 junction to state Route 89. The highway was also closed from Highway 32 to the Highway 149 junction.

Southbound Highway 99 was closed from the Highway 32 junction to the Highway 149 junction.

Patch editors Sue Schena and Sue Wood contributed to this report.

Photos 1-2 of Camp Fire taken in Paradise. Credit: John Nash

Photos 3-4 courtesy of CAL FIRE Butte Unit/Butte County Fire Department

Photos 5-7 credit Steve Matthews