Camp Fire Explodes to 17,000 Acres, Evacuations Moving West Toward Chico
Update 1:30 pm:
Cal Fire has confirmed that the Camp Fire, which is swiftly moving through Butte County, has grown to 17,000 acres in just 7 hours. Although official reports from the fire have been sparse due to its fast-moving nature, residents in the area have taken to social media to tell the terrifying stories surrounding the fire.
The fire has exploded through the community of Paradise, with buildings burning, including the Feather River Hospital. Online videos have shown homes and cars on fire throughout the area.
In a scary turn of events, evacuations are moving quickly down the hill to Forest Avenue in Chico, which sits on the east edge of town and includes many heavily populated areas. These evacuations seem to be strictly precautionary at the time, but should alert any nearby residents to be prepared to evacuate at any moment.
Evacuations are also coming down Forest Ave into Chico. @theorion_news pic.twitter.com/ypRbjd9DOe
— Natalie Hanson (@nhanson_reports) November 8, 2018
Cell phone service has been cut in the area, making it nearly impossible to contact friends and loved ones in the Paradise area. Many people are having trouble locating their loved ones, making it very difficult for rescue officials to determine how dangerous these missing persons reports truly are. Then there are people like the man pictured below, that was walking into the area into in search of his wife and daughter:
This man on the right is walking towards the #CampFire to look for his wife and daughter who live in Paradise. He said he hasn't been able to reach them for the past two hours. pic.twitter.com/vMznHgiSat
— Laura Eng (@LauraEngNews) November 8, 2018
Crews from all over the state are on the way to the area to assist with the fire. Injuries and structures have been destroyed, but those numbers are not currently available. Although a fatality had been reported earlier, that has not been confirmed by officials.
Mandatory evacuations include: The Town of Pulga, Zones 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14, South Pines Zone, Old Magalia Zone, South Coutolenc Zone, Carnegie Colter Zone, North Pines Zone, North Firhaven Zone, South Firhaven Zone, Centerville, Butte Creek, the area of Pentz Road and Highway 70 south to Highway 149 including Butte College and the area of Highway 70 from Concow south including Yankee Hill on both sides of Highway 70.
Evacuation warnings include: Lower Neal Zone, Upper Honey Run Zone, Lower Clark Zone, Lower Skyway Zone, Nimshew Zone and Zones 11 and 12.
Keep reading for more information including evacuation info and video/photos of the Camp Fire.
Update 11:00 am:
Reports now say that the fast-moving Camp Fire has grown to over 10,000 acres in just over 4 hours, while residence in the area continuing to flee the dangerous flames. A fire analyst estimated the size of the fire from Google Earth reports:
#CampFire has to be well over 10K acres now. This fire is not going to slow down anytime soon. I can't stress it enough, if you are in front of the fire get out now. pic.twitter.com/4Hzy9iqeY1
— Dave "Be Prepared" Toussaint (@engineco16) November 8, 2018
Due to the fast-moving nature of the fire, it has been nearly impossible to find concrete numbers of the destruction the fire has left in its wake. Videos have emerged on social media showing structures burning and people surrounded by flames.
The Camp Fire from Clark Road in Paradise. Video by John Michael. pic.twitter.com/f2Uil0euWq
— Active NorCal (@ActiveNorCal) November 8, 2018
Views from the #CampFire. Follow updates here: https://t.co/fbZJazEOfc pic.twitter.com/d5C7S8pWZN
— Active NorCal (@ActiveNorCal) November 8, 2018
#CampFire this is on pentz rd in Paradise. Pray for people to get out safe.ðŸ™ðŸ™ðŸ™ pic.twitter.com/Qe7MwHiH8e
— Jeff Curtis (@splinkjc) November 8, 2018
#CampFire
near Feather River Hospital
Paradise CA, Pentz Rd pic.twitter.com/gEIOxkHgEX— wcoast777 (@wcoast777) November 8, 2018
The Feather River Hospital has reportedly burned, with medical workers scrambling to evacuate people in the hospital. An air ambulance was called for a woman stuck in traffic in a ambulance while in labor.
https://twitter.com/Cdbrow1/status/1060605779693076480
Meanwhile, a plume of smoke is hovering over NorCal, causing visibility issues and poor air quality in neighboring communities, reaching all the way to Sacramento.
#campfire #buttecounty https://t.co/dkkiNYG6sg
— Kris (@Kris33103343) November 8, 2018
As of now, the wind continues to move at an incredible rate, but is currently moving south, away from the heavily populated areas of Chico. 14,000 people have lost power due to the fire. Here are all of the evacuation zones:
EVACUATION ORDERS:Â All of Paradise is under mandatory evacuation except for Lower Clark Road, Lower Neil Road and Lower Skyway Road.
Carnegie Zone
North Pines Zone
North Fire Haven Zone
South Fire Haven Zone
South Pine Zone
Old Magalia Zone
South Coutelenc Zone
Centerville and Butte Creek areas
EVACUATION WARNINGS:Â
Lower Neal and Upper Honey Run zones
EVACUATION SHELTERS:Â
Oroville Nazarene Church located at 2238 Monte Vista Ave., Oroville.
Neighborhood Church in Chico
For animals:
Small animal shelter set up at 2279 Del Oro Avenue, Oroville.
Large animal shelter set up at Camelot located at 1985 Clark Road, Oroville.
Update 9:45 am:
With winds up to 50 mph, the Camp Fire continues to move quickly as the Feather River Hospital is being completely evacuated and the people of the town of Paradise flee the flames. In just under 3 hours, the scanner shows the fire has grown to 5,000 acres.
#CampFire now well over 5000+ acres per scanner.
— Dave "Be Prepared" Toussaint (@engineco16) November 8, 2018
Reports of people trapped in the Feather River Hospital were reported on the scanner as emergency officials scramble to get people out of the area. The scanner is reporting that fatalities are possible.
#CampFire Feather River Hospital 4 trapped in a basement, surrounded by fire.
— Dave "Be Prepared" Toussaint (@engineco16) November 8, 2018
#CampFire one confirmed fatality per scanner
— Dave "Be Prepared" Toussaint (@engineco16) November 8, 2018
People are reportedly abandoning their cars along the road as the fire has jumped the Skyway near Magalia.
True emergency situation in #Paradise now due to #CampFire. Similar urgency to situation during #CarrFire near Redding earlier this summer. Folks trying to leave are trapped and stuck on roads with fire in all directions. Sobering, yet again. #CAwx #CAfire https://t.co/o5MQ7im4oA
— Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) November 8, 2018
A plume of smoke hovers over Chico as ash is raining from the sky and droves of cars are moving down the Skyway and away from the flames. There have been reports of at least one structure burning, vehicles being trapped by the flames and blackout conditions in some areas. All zones in Paradise are under evacuation.
The KMart and Taco Bell in Paradise are reportedly burning.
Small animals evacuated due to the #CampFire can be taken to the Old County Hospital at 2279 Del Oro and Mon, Suite E @BC_PubHealth https://t.co/auiSo6Sd7f
— Butte County, CA (@CountyofButte) November 8, 2018
#CampFire On Skyway in Paradise CA. Two spot fires on skyway as of 20 mins ago #CalFire pic.twitter.com/6HbjUBYbEP
— Alan🇺🇸 (@AlanIngram02) November 8, 2018
We will continue to update the situation as information is made available.
Update: 9:00 am
The Camp Fire erupted in Butte County early Thursday morning and quickly grew to 1,000 acres, now forcing mandatory evacuations in the Feather River Canyon and well as the entire town of Paradise. As it moves from the canyon and into populated areas, the fire is approaching the Feather River Hospital and anyone on Pentz road is under mandatory evacuation orders.
The fire was first reported around 6:30 a.m. and was first reported in the Camp Creek Road area near Highway 70 in the Feather River Canyon. The fire comes under current Red Flag Warning conditions, designated by the National Weather Service when high winds and dry fuels create dangerous fire conditions.
We will continue to update this article as information is made available. Here are some of the top posts from social media regarding the Camp Fire:
Well that escalated quickly. The #CampFire as seen from Chico this morning. pic.twitter.com/IRZ7Lp5GXj
— David Little (@ER_DavidLittle) November 8, 2018
Ominous looking over @ChicoState with smoke from #CampFire pic.twitter.com/02CVQY6VrV
— Jason Halley (@JasonHalley_CSU) November 8, 2018
Firefighters are battling a 1,000 acre fire off Camp Creek Road and Pulga Road, Jarbo Gap, off Highway 70 in the Feather River Canyon. Evacuations underway in Pulga. #CampFire https://t.co/5Q5aDTNnCg pic.twitter.com/xzo23EOYRb
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) November 8, 2018
#CampFire EMS all call evacuation pic.twitter.com/tscCYxVRWa
— NorCalEMT🇺🇸 (@RBerge21) November 8, 2018
#BREAKING: The #CampFire in Butte County has exploded in size to 1,000 acres. New mandatory evacuations have been issued for all of Pentz Road in Paradise east to Highway 70.
More >> https://t.co/7X7pjxYXQb pic.twitter.com/0g9A2LBQr1
— KRCR News Channel 7 (@KRCR7) November 8, 2018