UPDATE: FRIDAY, JULY 31, 11:11 A.M ... Containment has improved, evacuations are lifted, and the cause of the China Fireremains under investigation.
CHINA FIRE: (actually two fires that started nearly simultaneously and in close proximity.) As of 8:20 AM today, 212 acres have burned and containment has improved to 80%. All evacuations have been lifted. Cause of the fire remains under investigation.
MALLARD FIRE: Containment has improved to 95 percent; 75 acres burned. Crews will be mopping up residual hot spots today. Today's forecast high is 108 degrees with light and variable winds.
ORIGINAL POST: THURSDAY, JULY 30, 11:40 A.M. ... Firefighters are getting a handle on two sets of wildfires near Redding that have led to mandatory evacuations and road closures.
The China fire -- actually two close but apparently unrelated fires -- started Wednesday evening in the China Gulch and Happy Valley areas southwest of Redding.
Meanwhile, the Mallard fire near Millville, east of Redding, is being brought under control.
CHINA FIRE
As of Thursday morning, the China fire had burned a total of 150 acres. The fire is 60 percent contained.
Two structures have been destroyed and two more structures and an outbuilding have been damaged.
Firefighters continued overnight to aggressively fight the fire. CalFire says fire crews made great progress last night but are concerned about the weather forecasted for Thursday. Weather continues to be hot and dry with very low moisture recovery at night.
Mandatory evacuations are in effect for roads west of Happy Valley Road between Treat Avenue & Flower Lane, and an evacuation order is still in effect for the Redding Rancheria & the Win River Casino.
According to CalFire, Happy Valley Road at Canyon Road is closed, and Canyon Road at Hwy 273 is closed. Also closed is Olinda Road at Happy Valley Road.
The Red Cross has opened a shelter at Anderson High School in Anderson, about seven miles south of Redding.
MALLARD FIRE
By Thursday morning, the Mallard fire, off Mallard Way in Millville, had been held to 75 acres and was 90 percent contained.
One home has been destroyed. CalFire believes a fire in this residence may have been the cause of the larger fire.
Firefighters will work throughout the day mopping up and making sure all hot spots are extinguished.
Both fires remain under investigation.
