At long last, the worst disaster in the history of the North State is finally contained. 100% containment was declared Thursday on the Carr Fire after burning 229,651 acres and destroying 1,079 homes, 22 businesses and 503 other buildings. Hundreds more were damaged. The fire also claimed 8 lives, including 3 firefighters. There’s still a lot of work to do in fire suppression repair, and the rebuilding and recovery has barely begun from the devastation the fire caused to Redding, Keswick, Old Shasta and other communities.
Containment has reached 39% on the Hirz Fire on the McCloud Arm of Lake Shasta, now estimated at 36,083 acres. The human-caused fire began August 9th along Gilman Road. Crews have strengthened control lines through a series of firing operations on the northern and western sides of the fire. Due to the very difficult terrain, lines are being constructed outside the fire and then unburned vegetation is torched between the lines and the wildfire. Thursday more than 50,000 gallons of fire retardant was dropped on the Hirz Fire. No structural damage has been reported. Boat access is closed on the McCloud Arm of the lake just above Holiday Harbor, though Shasta Caverns remains open for visitors. Thursday night’s meeting in Dunsmuir was very well attended. Another community meeting on the Hirz Fire will be held Friday evening at 6PM at McCloud High School.