Super Scooper planes to fight Green Fire in Shasta-Trinity forest near Lake Shasta

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5 days ago

Fire officials working the Green Fire burning in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest northeast of Redding announced they are using two "Super Scooper" planes to drop water and help extinguish flames.
The U.S. Forest Service also said a firefighter suffered from heat-related illness and was taken by a firefighting boat, which has a medic onboard, to a waiting ambulance so they could receive more medical care.
As of Sunday, the growing fire's size was mapped at 10,334 acres from 9,563 on Saturday, fueled by extreme heat and dry conditions this time of year in the region. A heat advisory remained in effect through 11 p.m. Monday due to temperature highs that would range from 95 degrees to 110 degrees in parts of the Sacramento Valley.
The Super Scoopers was expected to draw water from various arms of Lake Shasta, but they need a mile of open space to refill their tanks. Boaters should move toward the shore so as to not impede the firefighting operations and keep air crews safe, the forest service said in a statement.
For the first time since lightning sparked the fire on July 1, the forest service reported firefighters built containment lines around 5% of the Green Fire. That's because to the south, the flames reached the Pit River. Watercraft, including the one that carried the ill firefighter to medical treatment, were in that area and secured defense lines along a portion of the river, the forest service said. Those boats were expected to continue suppression efforts along the river.
Nearly 1,200 fire personnel are assigned to the fire. In addition to the two airships, nine helicopters, 26 bulldozers, 56 engines, 16 hotshot crews and 10 other crews are fighting the fire. The forest service also has 15 ambulances staged throughout the area to respond to and support firefighters.
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On the north side of the fire, or the area of Alder Springs, flames backed down toward the burn scar of the Shoe Fire, which burned more than 5,000 acres before it was contained Nov. 9, 2024.
On the east side, the fire crossed Flat Creek and to the southwest, the fire moved across the Brock Mountain Road. The forest service said firefighters limited the fire's growth on the east side and secured the remainder of Brock Mountain Road to the north and northwest.
An evacuation order was still in place for a swath of land identified as zone LKH-1448-A, north of Kennedy Memorial Road and south of Wheeler Nursery Road, according to Genasys.com zone maps.
People evacuating west can go to a collection point at the Gilman Road and Interstate 5 intersection, the county announced.
People evacuating east toward Highway 299 can do to a collection point at Halcumb Cemetery, 29943 Highway 299 in Montgomery Creek, according to the county.
Zone LKH-1448-B to the north of the Green Fire area was under an evacuation warning, the Shasta County Sheriff's Office issued. That area is north of Wheeler Nursery Road. Other people who should be prepared to leave the area in case of a mandatory order were in zones:
Zone LKH-1200 to the west of the Green Fire area — from north of Ski Island, south of Dekkas Creek, east of the McCloud River and west of Bully Hill.
Zone LKH-1190 to the northwest — from north of Hirz Creek, south of the McCloud Bridge and east of Matquaw Flat.
To find your zone, type your address into the search window 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.
The forest service also 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.
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.
(This story will be updated as new information becomes available.)
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Super Scooper planes to fight Green Fire as it grows north of Redding