Last week, a wildfire near the Yosemite National Park scared the community. Thanks to the efforts of firefighters and volunteers it calmed down. This only happened after approximately 1000 residents were forced to evacuate their houses.
Approximately one square mile was burnt by the fire, near the foothills of the National Park area. Also, officials that revised the damage said that the fire spanned about twice as much ground.
Another wildfire started in Weaverville, near Northern California. At the moment authorities are doing all they can to keep the situation under control.
The wildfire in Northern California, near the town of Weaverville, is rapidly expanding. Its growth has prompted the evacuation of approximately 150 homes, but authorities say that the fire is threatening about 500 other residences.
The wildfire, which is currently situated approximately 2 miles west of Weaverville is also threatening roughly 20 facilities and businesses (including the town airport and a high school), declared the spokeswoman with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
Daniel Berlant, a State fire spokesman also says that the fire was sparked on Sunday afternoon, close to the highway west of Weaverville. In only a few hours it grew to a little more than 1 square mile (650 acres).
Fire spokesman Berland also said that the crews struggled to keep the blaze contained. Unfortunately, because of the steep terrain, dry conditions, and gusty winds it was almost impossible to contain the fire.
It appears that approximately 380 firefighters were sent in to battle the blaze. Lilly Wyatt, a spokeswoman with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and whose office was coordinating the response to the fire says that the special teams are making great efforts to keep the fire under control.
KRCR-TV also reported that the flames forced a closure of the highway for a few hours. In addition to this, school was canceled on Monday to protect the children.
Weaverville schools will be closed tomorrow because of the Oregon Fire. Principal Keith Sprague said parents of the 700 students at both Weaverville Elementary School and Trinity High School should be getting calls telling them about the closure
The Red Cross evacuation center, situated close to the Weaverville Elementary School. Seventeen people have registered there already, but the shelter will be moving at 8:00 Monday morning near the First Baptist Church on Highway 299. Also, Highway 299 is open to one way controlled traffic.
