Green Fire update: Blaze burning 5,914 acres in Shasta-Trinity forest
The wildfire burning in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest grew to 5,914 acres overnight, up from 5,037 acres Thursday afternoon, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The Green Fire remained east of Interstate 5 and 8 miles west of Montgomery Creek in Shasta County. It's burning in an area northeast of Gray Rocks and west of Fenders Ferry Road, firefighters reported.
Crews are battling very dry conditions, made worse by a heat wave that began Thursday.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for Shasta County and throughout the North State, in effect through 11 p.m. Monday. Afternoon temperatures in the Redding area warm to 110 on Friday, with weekend highs around 108, according to the forecast.
People should stay indoors in air conditioning during hottest times of the day to avoid heat-related health issues, public health branches cautioned.
When they do go outdoors, people should also avoid breathing Green Fire and other wildfire smoke, Shasta County Public Health announced.
Visitors should avoid fire areas and watch for emergency vehicles, Shasta-Trinity National Forest staff cautioned.
More: Poor air quality affects you even if you don't smell smoke, California: Air pollution explained
The forest service closed trails and campgrounds near the fire, including the Hirz Recreation Complex, Chirpchatter Campground and picnic area, Potem Falls Trail and Madrone Campground and picnic area.
An evacuation warning issued by the Shasta County Sheriff's Office, remained in place Friday morning. People in Zone LKH-1448 — between Montgomery Creek and O'Brian/Interstate 5 — should be prepared to evacuate if the county instructs them to do so, the sheriff's office said. That zone is north of Bully Hill; south of Satin Peak and Bagley Mountain; east of Nosoni, Salt Creek and Minnesota Mountains; and west of Kettle Mountain.
The fire started on July 1 north of the Pit River arm of Lake Shasta, and south of the Chirpchatter Campground, according to the forest service. That area is about 8 miles west of Round Mountain, according to Cal Fire maps.
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Evacuation orders and warnings are called by zone. To find out your zone, type your address at protect.genasys.com/search. If you're away from home and not sure of your address, users can find their location on the site's map.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding's Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Green Fire in Shasta County spreads to 5,914 acres with no containment
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