Deadly Carr Fire Destroys 1,000 Homes; Scorches Area Larger Than San Jose
REDDING (CBS SF) – The deadly Carr Fire burning in Northern California reached another grim milestone early Wednesday.
According to Cal Fire, the blaze has scorched 180.5 square miles (115,538 acres), an area larger than the city of San Jose (180.2 square miles). Nearly 10 days after it started near Highway 299 west of Redding, the fire is only 35 percent contained.
Officials said the fire has destroyed 1,018 residences, 12 structures and 435 outbuildings. Another 181 residences, six commercial structures and 61 outbuildings have been damaged.
In a written statement, Cal Fire said the western edge of the fire continued to challenge crews, and that steep terrain, along with erratic winds are contributing to the potential for spot fires.
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The fire has claimed six lives — two of the victims' firefighters involved in battling the blaze — bulldozer operator Braden Varney, a 36-year-old father of two and Redding Fire inspector Jeremy Stoke.
Firefighters from the Alameda County Fire Department and the Moraga-Orinda Fire District paid homage to the lost firefighters lowering an American flag found undamaged at Whiskeytown Cemetery to half mast.
Numerous evacuation orders and road closures remain in effect Wednesday in the City of Redding, along with Shasta and Trinity counties. A full list can be found here (.pdf).
More than 4,000 personnel from agencies across California have been fighting the blaze.
The Carr Fire is currently the sixth most destructive fire in California history.