Wildfire near Redding nearly triples in size, triggers evacuations

Thursday, September 6, 2018
REDDING, Calif. (KGO) -- Interstate 5 remains closed in Shasta County because of a fast-moving wildfire. The Delta Fire is burning about ten miles north of Redding. So far, the fire has grown to 23 square miles and has zero percent containment. It was 8 square miles on Wednesday.

Caltrans says there are no plans to reopen I-5 north of Redding on Thursday night and will re-evaluate on Friday morning.

VIDEO: 'I might die here': Videos show drivers escaping wildfire on I-5 in Shasta County near Redding
'I might die here': Videos show drivers escaping wildfire near Redding


Officials have issued evacuation orders, but did not immediately say how many people are impacted. The fire is in a rural area with scattered homes.

Thousands of people were stuck after it ignited Wednesday just before 1 p.m. There were abandoned trucks destroyed by the flames as the fire jumped I-5.
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"It felt like it was coming to us so some of the guys that were in front of us, I don't know like five or ten trucks in front of us were closer to it, they had to drop their trailers and turn around," said Julio Vega, motorist.

VIDEO: Woman grateful to be alive after fleeing Shasta Co. wildfire

The U.S. Forest Service has launched a full aircraft attack and ground response.
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Officials say the cause of the fire was human, but they did not go into specifics.

Get the latest stories and videos on wildfires burning across California, here.

PHOTOS: A look at wildfires burning across California
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