It’s Finally Over: The Carr Fire is 100 Percent Contained
On July 23rd, a flat tire on a trailer sparked a fire in the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. 39 days later, the fire that burned over 1,600 structures, claimed seven lives and torched 230,000 acres is finally 100 percent contained.
#CarrFire [Final] northwest of Anderson (Shasta County) is 100% contained at 229,651 acres. Unified Command: CAL FIRE Shasta-Trinity Unit, US Forest Service, and Whiskeytown National Park. https://t.co/QmhauhZj9m pic.twitter.com/0fkrbJvxjX
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) August 31, 2018
The Carr Fire became the sixth largest fire in the history of California and captured the attention of the world when its “Firenado” ripped through neighborhoods in west Redding. The fire moved all the way from Whiskeytown to Trinity and Shasta Lakes, covering nearly 360 square miles.
The devastation in Redding has been widely reported. Vice News Tonight shot a video series documenting the plight of the victims who have nothing left after losing their homes. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke visited the burned areas, likening them to what he has seen in war zones around the world.
Photo’s emerged of the charred remains of the beloved Sacramento River Trail, showing an area that remains closed to the public and will never be the same.
The damage at the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area was extensive. Utility poles and power lines are down throughout the park and a sewage treatment plant was destroyed. At least seven cabins were destroyed at the popular N.E.E.D. Camp, an environmental camp for elementary students. Oak Bottom Marina was hit hard by the fire, including the destruction of over 40 boats. The park is attempting a soft reopening on Labor Day Weekend.
The fire began as any normal Northern California and spread rapidly over a three-day period. The fast expansion is what left devastation in its path. See this simulation of the fire’s growth from CalFire:
With the extensive damage and emotional distress put on the communities in Northern California, it will take years to recover. But we will rebuild and once again come together as a community to overcome any distress. Because we are Shasta Strong.
