The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Big rigs abandoned as wildfire scorches freeway
California blaze near Oregon border worsens season.
SHASTA-TRINITY NATIONAL FOREST, CALIF. — Truckers abandoned big rigs and motorists screamed in fear as they came dangerously close to an explosive wildfire that shut down about 45 miles of a major California interstate near the Oregon border that authorities were desperately trying to reopen.
In a video, a passenger in a vehicle screams: “Oh my God, I want to go!” as nearby trees burst into flames.
“I can’t breathe,” the woman says, sobbing. “Please, guys, come put it out.”
The fire erupted Wednesday afternoon in a rural area and devoured timber and brush on both sides of Inter- state 5 as it nearly-tripled in size overnight, officials said Thursday.
Elsewhere in the state, a fire raging in the Sierra Nevada had grown to more than 7 square miles after shutting down stretches of U.S. 395, State Route 108 and the Pacific Crest Trail along the eastern spine of California.
The Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, campgrounds and other areas were evacuated Wednesday. Ranchers were told to prepare to move livestock out of the area in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
The two fires Thursday were raging just-weeks after a blaze in the Redding area killed eight people and burned some 1,100 homes in a frightening start to the fire season.
California’s insurance commissioner said Thursday that victims of that fire and one in the Mendocino area — the two largest blazes in the state so far this year — have filed more than 10,000 claims so far totaling $845 million.
The two fires “devastated entire communities and trag- ically cost many people their lives, and were among the most destructive fires in our state’s history,” Commis- sioner David Jones said in a statement.
The two fires destroyed or damaged a combined 8,800 homes and 329 businesses, he said, warning that scientists are predicting more destructive wildfires later this year.
The blaze Thursday along Interstate 5 has blackened 23 square miles, prompting mandatory evacuations. It was moving rapidly but was still far from any large towns.
Officials from a number of agencies were meeting Thursday to determine if they can reopen the high- way, a key route for com- mercial trucks, California Highway Patrol Officer Jason Morton said.
The highway runs north from the Mexico border through California, Oregon and Washington state to the border with Canada.
The scattered homes and cabins in and around Shasta-Trinity National Forest were u nder evac u ati on orders, from the community of Lakehead north to the Siskiyou County line, said Chris Losi, a spokesman for the forest.
“It isn’t a lot of people,” he said.
The blaze was humancaused, officials said, without indicating whether it was arson or an accident.
About 17 big rigs were abandoned along the interstate and at least four caught fire, Lt. Cmdr. Kyle Foster of the California Highway Patrol’s Mount Shasta office told the Los Angeles Times. At least two trucks were partially melted.
U.S. Forest Service workers helped the driver of one flaming truck to safety. Truckers, firefighters and others aided more drivers.