#BolesFire forces more than 1,500 residents in community of Weed to evacuate, at least 100 buildings burned
Northern California wildfire engulfs town of Weed; damage assessment team to be sent in Tuesday
Officials
plan to send a damage assessment team to the Northern California
community of Weed on Tuesday, where a wildfire destroyed or severely
damaged more than 100 buildings, including a church and the town
sawmill.
More than 1,500 residents were evacuated to the Siskiyou County fairgrounds as the Boles fire, last reported at 350 acres, tore through the town.
The
fire broke out about 1:30 p.m. Monday near the town, which is about 50
miles south of the California-Oregon border. Daniel Berlant, a spokesman
for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said the
flames were fueled by 40 mph winds and dry conditions.
“The fire
was able to rage right into the community before we were able to get
fire equipment into the scene,” he said. “Tomorrow we are deploying a
damage assessment team to determine the exact damage done by the fire.”
Evacuation orders were issued for the communities of Weed, Carrick and Lake Shastina, fire officials said.
The
town's Catholic church was destroyed by the blaze, according to the
Associated Press. Fire officials said a sawmill that was heavily damaged
will require extensive repairs.
More than 800 firefighters
battled the blaze into the night. The fire was 15% contained by about 10
p.m. Monday, fire officials said.
The cause of the blaze was still under investigation, Berlant said.
According
to U.S. Census figures, nearly 3,000 people live in Weed, a historic
mining town. The city was named after the founder of a lumber mill,
Abner Weed, who discovered that the area's strong winds were helpful in
drying the sawed timber. For breaking news, follow @AdolfoFlores3.
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