by Kelli SaamWednesday, June 30th 2021
Smoke from the Lava Fire blocks the view of Mt. Shasta Wednesday morning (Photo from Cal Fire/Lake Shastina camera/KRCR)<p>{/p}<p>{/p}
WEED, Calif. — The Lava Fire has grown to more than 17,000 acres as of Wednesday morning. The fire has burned 17,591 acres, an increase of more than 4,000 acres since Tuesday. Containment remains at 19 percent. It is the biggest fire burning in California.
Evacuations were expanded Wednesday morning to include all visitors on the southwest side of Mt. Shasta, including Bunny Flat, Sand Flat, Red Fir Flat, McBride Springs Campground and all points in between. The Everitt Memorial Highway is closed at McBride Springs.
An estimated 8,000 people have been evacuated from nearly Lake Shastina and Juniper Valley. The fire is burning about 3.5 miles northeast of Weed.
Officials warn the community of Weed and Interstate 5 continue to be areas of concern but said good progress was made on the western edge of the fire Tuesday. Governor Gavin Newsom visited the incident command center on Tuesday. On Wednesday he will remain in Siskiyou County to participate in a virtual briefing with President Joe Biden and the governors of other western states. President Biden is expected to announce an increase in pay for federal firefighters and other wildfire actions.
All evacuation orders issued by Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office remain in place for the Lava Fire. They include the following areas:
- All homes north side of Hoy Road
- North along Highway 97 to County Road A-12
- Communities of Lake Shastina and Juniper Valley off Big Springs Road from Highway 97 to McDonald Lane
- Big Springs Road on both east and west sides
- Mount Shasta Vista Subdivision
- County Road A-12 north and south
- Harry Cash Road
- 4 Corners to Hart Road
- Highway 97 Closure:
- Highway 97 is closed between the City of Weed and the Juniper Lodge on Highway 97
CALL 211 for more information.
