Cal-Fire crews protected homes in the Jones Valley area Sunday morning, where residents have had more than their share of fires over the years. It was called the Jones Fire, the same name as a bizarre and destructive 1999 fire that swept through the same area. Sunday’s Jones Fire started at around 5AM near Argonaut Trail and Elk Trail east and the strong north winds carried it quickly through the tinder-dry grasses and Oaks. Evacuations were started and a reverse 9-1-1 was done to alert the area’s residents. The sheriff’s office assisted with evacuations and road closures. Cal-Fire and volunteer firefighters got the forward progress stopped at 40 acres and prevented the flames from reaching any structures. It’s 70% contained.
Some East Redding homes were briefly threatened by a fast moving vegetation fire Sunday afternoon. The fire started at around 4 O’clock in an undeveloped area near a small lake at the end of Oak Mesa, which is west of Shasta View and north of Highway 44. It spread rapidly, according to Redding Fire Battalion Chief Sean Coleman. Firefighters held the blaze to about 2 acres with no structural damage. The cause is not known.
A fire between Red Bluff and Redding caused some freeway traffic problems Sunday. The blaze started at around Noon in the Jelly’s Ferry Road area where it meets Interstate 5. Traffic backed up as one lane of the freeway was closed and Hooker Creek Road was closed to all but residents. The fire was contained at 8 acres. The cause is not known.