A new wildfire reported early Monday afternoon in Shasta County spread quickly, forcing evacuations and closing California Highway 299.The Carr Fire started near the Carr Powerhouse at the foot of Whiskeytown Lake. Its rapid spread forced the evacuation of the entire community of French Gulch and several roads nearby.
Emergency shelters were set up at Weaverville Elementary School for residents living west of Trinity Mountain Road, and at Shasta High School in Redding for residents living east of that point.
The closing of 299 cuts the route between Redding and the Coast, with no viable alternative.
Cal Fire, fighting the fire with the help of crews from the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, reported the fire at 2,500 acres at 9:30 PM, with 5% containment. Cal Fire had no report on the cause.
