As Town Gives Thanks, Fire Battle Goes On

Weaverville residents, who were evacuated en masse when their tiny Northern California town was threatened by fire, continued returning Thursday, as crews kept battling the 1,700-acre blaze, which was 75% contained.

After firefighters cut down trees that posed a fire threat, residents--grateful that most of the houses and businesses were spared--negotiated their way through thick smoke back to their homes.

Nine residences and three recreational vehicles were destroyed by the fire, which was whipped by 30-mph winds. But the historic downtown was saved and most of the 3,550 dwellings in the town, which is between Redding and Eureka about 200 miles north of San Francisco, were left standing.

“We’re very, very lucky only nine homes were lost,” said California Department of Forestry spokeswoman Kathy Gillette. “Especially with the way that wind was pushing the fire into the town.”

The fire was caused by sparks from a passing vehicle.

“There were five separate origins where the fire started,” Gillette said. “It could have been from a vehicle that was dragging something. If, for example, a catalytic converter goes out, it can shoot out sparks.”

Tuesday night, many residents had little hope for downtown Weaverville and nearby neighborhoods. But the winds died down, the humidity increased and the flames retreated. More than 900 firefighters created a protective barrier and launched a desperate stand to save the town.

Although much progress had been made during the past two days, firefighters were worried that winds could begin blowing again, fanning flames and threatening Weaverville and the neighboring communities of Ten Cent Gulch and East Weaver.

“We’re very concerned the winds could pick up and we could be in the same situation again,” said Del Walters, deputy chief of the Forestry Department. “Our objective is to keep the fire where it is.”

Crews battled another Northern California blaze Thursday, about 25 miles west of Lake Tahoe. The 9,600-acre fire is about 20% contained.

“This is a very tough fire to fight because of the terrain,” said Gordon Gay, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman. “It’s very steep, rocky and hard to get to.”

Almost 2,000 firefighters battled the blaze, which burned along the middle fork of the American River in the Eldorado and Tahoe national forests.

A thick, acrid haze drifted miles from the fire. No structures have burned and none are threatened, Gay said.

Officials did not know when the fire, which broke out Saturday, would be contained. The cause of the blaze was unknown.

Fire officials estimated Thursday that fighting the fire had cost about $4.5 million.

Two firefighters suffered moderate burns Wednesday. One fell into a hole left by a burned tree stump and was airlifted to Davis Burn Center, where he was treated and released, Schrader said. The other firefighter was burned by a falling tree limb.

Associated Press contributed to this story.