The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that it has lifted evacuation orders for several areas in Cottonwood, Millville and Shingletown. Less restrictive evacuation warnings were also lifted for numerous areas in parts of southern Shasta County, according to the sheriff’s office.
As of Thursday morning, the fire was 392,480 acres and 18% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
While some evacuations are being eased, the fire and weather conditions continue to pose problems for firefighters trying to bring the fire under control, Cal Fire said.
The fire was most active in the northeast portions in Tehama County and in Butte County, Cal Fire said Thursday morning. Additional crews arrived to help in suppression, officials said.
“Today will mark the first of several days where fire weather will become increasingly critical. Temperatures will rise from the upper 90s to the lower 100s. Daytime humidity will fall to upper teens today. Winds will be drier out of the south, but speeds will be close to previous days. There is increased instability in the north where we will see columns and plumes of smoke,” Cal Fire said Thursday.
Smoke from the fire also continues to be a problem. Air tankers flights were delayed due to smoke and visibility problems Thursday morning, according to emergency scanner traffic.
Warmer temperatures are forecast for Northern California on Friday and Saturday, with the potential for thunderstorms and erratic winds.
Thunder storms are predicted Friday in the northeast part of the fire in the area of the Lassen National Forest, Cal Fire said. The agency also noted that crews continue to work in areas of lava rock, steep drainages, and other difficult terrain.
The fire started in the afternoon on July 24. Fire investigators said a Chico man deliberately set the fire in Upper Bidwell Park outside Chico when he pushed his mother’s burning car over the side of an embankment. The vehicle rolled some 60 feet down a hillside to the bottom of a gully where it burst into flames, according to the Butte County District Attorney.
The man, Ronnie Dean Stout II has been charged with arson in connection to starting the blaze. He was expected to attend a hearing in Butte County Superior Court on Thursday for further arraignment.
Readers, scroll down for updates as they are posted for Thursday, Aug. 1.
9:06 a.m. Thursday: Structure damage numbers rise dramatically, critical fire weather arrives
The number of structures damaged in the Park Fire rose to 483, while the number damaged increased to 47, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Thursday morning.
Most of buildings destroyed — 356 — are located in Butte County, while 127 structures were destroyed in Tehama County, Cal Fire reported. The agency said 85% of its damage assessment has been completed.
While more structures were destroyed in Butte County, the fire scorched more acreage in Tehama County than Butte, Cal Fire said. There were 339,481 acres burned in Tehama County, compared to 52,999 in Butte County, where the fire started.
To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Park Fire updates: Shasta County evacuations eased as fire still grows
