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In
the Redding area, where the Carr Fire has killed six people,
including two firefighters, fierce winds of 25 miles (40 km) per
hour, temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 Celsius) and
extremely low humidity were in the forecast from Thursday
evening until Saturday, the National Weather Service said.
This could lead to "dangerous and rapid irregular spreading of a
large wildfire", the service said in an advisory.
The Carr Fire has destroyed more than 1,546 structures in and
around Redding, a city of 90,000 people about 160 miles (260 km)
north of the state capital, Sacramento.
Authorities on Wednesday reopened more evacuated neighborhoods
as ground crews, aided by diminished winds, extended buffer
lines carved out of thick, dry brush along the fire's edge to 35
percent of its perimeter, officials said.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire)
commanders said on Wednesday the fire, sparked by a vehicle on
July 23, was burning with far less intensity this week and posed
little immediate threat to populated areas.
Despite the outlook, strong gusts along the upper ridge lines
were a concern on the fire's rugged western flanks, a few miles
from the town of Lewiston, which remained evacuated.
More than 4,200 firefighters have spent 11 days battling the
blaze, which has scorched 121,000 acres (49,000 hectares),
laying waste to entire neighborhoods in the scenic
Shasta-Trinity region.
Law enforcement officials said the last four people reported as
missing among a list of 20 whose names were published on Tuesday
were located safe on Wednesday.
The Carr Fire was one of eight large wildfires burning in the
state and 93 burning in the United States, mostly in the West,
according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
The intense wildfires have been fueled by several years of
drought-dessicated vegetation, and stoked by frequent and
persistent bouts of erratic winds and triple-digit temperatures.
To the southwest of the Carr Fire, more than 3,000 firefighters
were battling the 95,000-acre Medocino Complex, made up of the
Ranch and River fires that have destroyed seven homes and forced
thousands to evacuate. High temperatures, low humidity and
afternoon winds along with low fuel moistures are aiding large
fire growth, fire officials said.
(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; editing by David
Stamp)
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