At least 2 dead, scores of homes lost as wildfire sweeps through Redding, California

[Meatpie]

The Carr fire burns along Highway 299 in Shasta, Calif., on July 26.

A destructive wildfire in far Northern California nearly doubled in size overnight, killing at least two people — including a city firefighter — and burning numerous homes in Redding as residents ran for their lives and firefighters found it impossible to battle the wall of flames.

The Carr fire has destroyed 65 homes and damaged 55 others, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Friday, Those numbers are expected to rise.

The blaze, driven east by 30 mph winds, hopscotched into subdivisions Thursday night and Friday morning. Officials said hundreds of homes were threatened as winds pushed the fire into the community.

It was a chaotic scene across Redding, a city of 90,000 people about 100 miles from the Oregon border, as towering flames whipped along the horizon and evacuation orders expanded by the hour in the middle of the night.

 

[alexonedeath]

I heard on the news that a second firefighter has died.

 

[Meatpie]

Thousands Flee 'Tornado' California Fires

The Peardale Chicago Park Fire Protection District captured one spinning vortex in a video posted to YouTube — describing it as a “fire whirl.”

Yes Alex, two firefighters are now dead as northern California wildfires contine to rage out of control the Carr fire forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

The fires in Shasta county are being sucked up by strong winds to form "fire tornados" that are uprooting trees and overturning cars, fire officials say.

The blazes have destroyed at least 500 structures and are threatening thousands of homes.

Firefighters are battling the blaze, which is only 5% contained so far.

The wildfire began on Monday and has scorched over 48,000 acres (194 sq km) of land - an area larger than the city of San Francisco.

 

[Meatpie]

Carr Fire Photo Gallery

Exclusive photos show trees blown by fire toranado and melted electricity pylons in areas already scorched by the Carr fire.

 

[Meatpie]

All three of the state's major blazes are making rare pyrocumulus clouds right now

Carr fire is now burning so hot people in the area report the fire is creating rare pyrocumulus clouds which are more commonly seen above volcanic eruptions.



Satellite data also confirmed this unusual cloud formation over the area.

 

[Meatpie]

Pyrocumulus clouds and smoke over California fires

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[Meatpie]

Horrific Air Quality over California this Morning

Air Quality Advisory issued a few hours ago and in effect for Mendocino County through Sunday. Smoke from wildfires in Oregon and from the Carr fire has drifted in, as well as some smoke from the more local River & Ranch Fires. View overlooking Ukiah.

 

[Meatpie]

Nine people are reported missing as wildfires spread in California. Thank you for following our live updates. More soon.

 

[Meatpie]

Firefighters and fire trucks from South San Francisco, San Bruno, Central County, Foster City and Belmont Fire Departments on their way to Shasta County to help with catastrophic Carr Fire.

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[Meatpie]

Redding Police Chief Moore Loses Home in Carr Fire

The police chief of the Northern California city hit hard by a fast-moving wildfire is among those whose homes went up in flames.

Redding Police Chief Roger Moore told the Los Angeles Times that he and two other police officers lost their homes in Shasta County's Carr Fire.


Moore estimates at least 100 homes were destroyed overnight Thursday as the flames jumped the Sacramento River and raced into the outskirts of Redding. More than 37,000 residents have been evacuated.


The city of 92,000 is about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of the Oregon border.


Moore said the family saved valuables such as photos and documents, but his wife and children are anxious and sad.

 

[Meatpie]

Reports are coming in of people fleeing for the lives as ash is falling from the sky in Shasta County.



Photo above is from Redding.

 

[Meatpie]

In the last 24 hours the Carr fire has doubled in size.

Firefighters continue to work aggressively to build containment lines around the Carr Fire but their efforts have been hampered overnight due to extreme fire behavior and challenging wind conditions.

 

[alexonedeath]

I must count my blessings.

 

[Meatpie]

Children Perish in Carr Fire Five People Dead 17 Missing

Two children and their great-grandmother are among five people to have died in a raging wildfire in northern California.

Two firefighters died on Thursday, 17 people are missing and tens of thousands have fled their homes.

 

[Meatpie]

Fawn Rescued from the Carr Fire by California Highway Patrol

 

[Meatpie]

Carr Fire Victims

James Roberts, 5, and Emily Roberts, 4, were stranded with her great-grandmother Melody Bledsoe, 70, when walls of flames swept through the family’s rural property on Thursday on the outskirts of Redding, 350 kilometres north of San Francisco.

Melody Bledsoe did everything she could to save the kids she was found hovered over them both with a wet blanket.

 

[alexonedeath]

That's too sad. The three of them had to have been so terrified. Great grandma kept her wits about her, though, because a wet blanket was probably the right thing to try under the circumstances. Can you imagine the absolute panic the parents must have felt when they realized their kids were trapped in the path of the inferno?

 

[Meatpie]

California Wildfires as Seen from Space Today



Several fires which merged are now called Mendocino Complex Fire which will soon become the largest most destructive fire in California history.

 

[deaddirty]

And still they burn on. This one's in British Columbia (Canada). Just what you really really don't want to meet - a firenado with attitude, the firefighters try to tackle it so it simply grabs their hose and chucks it away!

https://youtu.be/j8thMiATRLk