Intense Winds Push Bear Fire Around Lake Oroville as Thousands Flee from the Flames

The Bear Fire/North Complex Fire intensified Tuesday night with fast-moving winds and has been pushed all the way to Lake Oroville as the communities of Oroville, Bangor and Kelly Ridge flee from the flames.

The Butte County Sheriff announced new evacuation orders early Wednesday morning, showing just how fast the fire spread overnight:

Here is a breakdown of the evacuations as of 4 am Wednesday:

Immediate evacuation orders:

  • Kelly Ridge
  • Copley Acres
  • Cherokee Road at Highway 70 south to Thompson Flat Cemetery Road and all areas east to Lake Oroville.
  • Berry Creek
  • Brush Creek
  • Clipper Mills
  • Feather Falls
  • Forbestown
  • East of Miners Ranch Road at Highway 162 and Oro-Bangor Highway, which includes Bangor and part of the Mt. Ida area.

Evacuation warning:

  • Highway 70 at Garden Dr., south to Lower Honcut Rd.
  • Lower Honcut Rd. East to Bangor and everything East to the borders of the current immediate evacuation orders
  • This includes Oroville, South Oroville and Palermo areas

While statistics of the size and destroyed structures have not been released, it seems the fire grew by 100,000 acres overnight, with multiple structures destroyed. Photos and videos show a night of intense flames in the Plumas National Forest and Butte County:

The Red Flag Fire Warning continues through Wednesday, when winds are expected to die down around noon. We will continue to update the situation as more information is made available.

Active NorCal

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