Escaped Burn Growing In Tehama County

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Escaped Burn Growing In Tehama County

Tehama fire spreads to 1,000 acres

By Thom Gabrukiewicz (Contact)
Originally published 09:14 a.m., May 7, 2008
Updated 09:14 a.m., May 7, 2008

RED BLUFF — An escaped controlled burn on a ranch in western Tehama County grew to an estimated 1,000 acres today and was burning about 35 miles west of Red Bluff and east of Colyear Springs Road, said Mickie Jakez, public information officer for the Tehama/Glenn Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Rancher Ben Sales began the controlled burn Saturday, Jakez said. She described the ranch as remote, with steep canyons and a lot of brush.

“There are some houses and cabins, but they are pretty scattered,” Jakez said. “Everyone has been notified of the fire.”

Sales, Jakez said, hired private bulldozers and water tenders to try to contain the blaze, but it continued to grow.

“That’s when he reported it to us,” she said, adding that Cal Fire got the call at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday.

No structures are threatened, there have been no injuries and there are no calls for evacuation, Jakez said. Some 235 firefighters are working the blaze.

There also is no estimate on containment.

“We’ll have a better idea when we fly it today,” Jakez said. “Of course, the major factor today will be the wind.”

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Wednesday, May 7, 2008