Red Bank Fire Outside Red Bluff Grows to 6,500 Acres, Prompting Mandatory Evacuations
Around 12:15 pm on Thursday, a fire was ignited by lightning in rural Tehama County just west of Red Bluff. In the hours since, the fast-moving fire grew to 6,500 acres, threatening structures and prompting mandatory evacuations in the area. Containment currently sits at 5 percent.
#RedBankFire (Tehama Co) – AA reporting the head of the fire has slowed slightly, looking @ approx 5000 acres. IC anticipating to be thin on ground resources tonight as resource orders are filling slowly. 4 large air tankers & 2 VLATs ordered for tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/3JFgfx33Cz
— CA Fire Scanner (@CAFireScanner) September 6, 2019
Cal Fire is encouraging residents in the area to begin gathering livestock and belongings in anticipation of more evacuations coming on Friday. Here are the current areas of evacuation near Red Bluff:
- Red Bank Oaks subdivision
- Petty John Road to Forest Service Boundary
- R-Wild Horse Ranch
The Chico Air Attack Base is supporting the #RedBankFire. Just reloaded Tanker 101, an MD87, with 3000 gallons of retardant and it's headed back to #Tehama County. pic.twitter.com/hlONXITh2p
— CAL FIRE Butte Unit/Butte County Fire Department (@CALFIRE_ButteCo) September 6, 2019
Cal Fire has deployed 650 personnel to help extinguish the fire, but the terrain and weather has made it difficult.
“(The) fire is burning in a remote location with difficult access,” Cal Fire said in a statement. “Multiple structures threatened.”
We will continue to update the situation as more information becomes available.
