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The latest update from California fire officials Sunday morning showed the Mill Fire in Siskiyou County did not grow overnight and remained at 4,254 acres.
Highway 97 from Weed to MacDoel was closed due to the Mill Fire, but the road was open again as of Sunday morning.
However, the Mountain Fire, which is also burning in Siskiyou County, grew 13% from Saturday night to Sunday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The wildfire was 6,451 acres as of Sunday morning and 5% contained. That fire burned farther west of Interstate 5 and about 9 miles southwest of the community of Gazelle.
No structures were destroyed and none were threatened by the wildfire, Cal Fire said.
Earlier estimates said about 100 structures were destroyed when the Mill Fire broke out early Friday afternoon and burned from Weed north to the Lake Shastina subdivision.
However, Sunday’s latest report on fire conditions said there were 50 structures destroyed, including no buildings, according to Cal Fire.
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While Weed’s mayor said the Mill fire started at the Roseburg Forest Products Plant in Weed, Cal Fire said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
Three people were injured in the blaze and the fire was still 25% contained, the same percentage of containment shown in Cal Fire’s Saturday fire update.
There were 411 structures threatened and 1,000 people still evacuated as of Sunday morning, Cal Fire said. An evacuation shelter was set up at the Kahtishraam Wellness Center, 1403 Kahtishraam Road in Yreka, for evacuees from the Mill and Mountain fire.
Cal Fire planned to hold a community informational meeting about both fires at 3 p.m. Sunday at Big Springs Elementary School, 7405 County Highway A12 in Montague.
Damon Arthur is Record Searchlight’s resources and environment reporter. He is part of a team of journalists who investigate wrongdoing and find unheard voices to tell the stories of the North State. He welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834 by email at [email protected] and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!
