Evacuations Ordered For Shasta County Residents Near The Mountain Fire

SHASTA COUNTY (CBS13) – The rapidly-spreading Mountain Fire, which broke out east of Redding off Highway 299, brought back terrifying memories for people still recovering from last year's fire season.

Mandatory evacuation orders had approximately 3,800 residents fleeing as crews rushed to fight the flames.

By Thursday night, the fire had destroyed one building, burned 600 acres, and was 20% contained. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

Residents in Shasta County are no strangers to devastating wildfires, so when the call came to evacuate, no one wasted any time getting out. 

Joni Jones was camped out with her dogs along Highway 299 most of the day after heeding the call to get out. 

"My neighbor screaming next door because we have been through this before," Jones said. 

She has lived through two big fires, in 1999 and 2004, where two of her horses died.

"I lost my house to a fire on the ridge because I lived off-grid," Jones said. 

This time it was just as serious.

"As soon as we saw how close it was we all knew we had to get out," Jones said.  

North winds fueled the fire as it burned through dry grass and brush. 

"It looked like a plume on a nuclear bomb and it was getting bigger," Jeff Reaves said.

Reaves came up to check on his parents' home.

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"We had a front-row seat," Reaves. "The air support just nailed it." 

Many were glad to see the rapid response after the deadly Carr Fire and Camp Fire last year.

"I think the dramatic effect its had on lives caused a dramatic response-so they were pounding it hard," Reaves said.

Cal Fire says they approach each fire aggressively.

"We had aircraft, a large number of tankers, resources engines to crews to dozers and water tenders, everything you could throw at her," a Cal Fire firefighter said.

By nightfall, 600 acres had burned and the fire was 20% contained. It was good news for Jones, who will have to wait along with thousands of others until Friday to return home.

"Amen, amen, absolutely but the problem is the embers keep falling," Jones said.  

Firefighters say embers falling is a big concern. That's what happened in the same area last year when the Carr Fire hit in Redding, just 20 miles away.  

Some of the evacuations were lifted Thursday night. 

By 10 p.m. Thursday, Dry Creek Road at Highway 299 will be opened.

An evacuation shelter has been set up in Redding, located at Crosspointe Community Church, 2960 Hartnell Ave., Redding, CA 96002.