Dale Fire seen from west Redding. Photo by Candace Brown.
UPDATE Saturday 8 a.m.: The Dale Fire is 75 percent contained. Full containment expected by the day’s end. Demobilization of resources is in progress. All evacuations are lifted. All roads are open.
The fire covered 1,200 acres. More than 150 homes were threatened, five were damaged, but no homes were destroyed. More than 200 outbuildings were threatened, and two were destroyed.
One minor injury was reported.
The Dale Fire, that began on the afternoon of July 5 at Dale Lane and Cloverdale Road in Happy Valley, utilized 1,138 personnel, 111 fire engines, 35 fire crews, six helicopters, six bulldozers and six water-tenders.
An evacuee and fire mobilization center was opened at U-Prep on Eureka Way in Redding.
Participating agencies include CAL FIRE, Shasta Co. Fire Dept., Anderson Fire Dept., Happy Valley Fire Dept., Cottonwood Fire Protection Dist., CalEMA, Shasta Co. Sheriffs Office, CHP, and BLM.
Dale Fire information provided by CAL FIRE.
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UPDATE Friday 6:30 p.m. – All evacuations are lifted.
All roads have been reopened, with the exception of Clear Creek Road between Cloverdale and Honeybee roads.
Demobilization of excess resources will begin tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.
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UPDATE noon Friday: Evacuations are in effect on Clear Creek Road between Cloverdale Road and Texas Springs Road, and all off-streets.
Clear Creek Rd between Cloverdale Rd and Texas Springs Rd remains closed.
Total fire personnel 1,016, 88 engines, 37 fire crews, 4 air tankers, 6 helicopters, 7 bulldozers and 14 water tenders. The fire is burning toward the northwest.
Dale Fire viewed from near Secluded Valley Road in west Redding, taken by Joe McCarthy of Redding from his home's deck, approximately 1 mile from the fire line.
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UPDATE 8 a.m. Friday: Cooler overnight temperatures helped firefighters hold the Dale Fire to 1,200 acres. CalFire reports that the fire is 40 percent contained.
Evacuations were lifted on Cloverdale Road. Road closures and evacuations remain in effect for Diggins Way south of Placer Rd, Clear Creek Rd, Honeybee Rd, Whispering Canyon Dr, and Oak St.
Affiliated agencies include Cal EMA, Shasta County Sheriff office, CHP, BLM, Shasta Co. Fire Dept., Anderson Fire Dept., Happy Valley Fire Dept., Cottonwood Fire Protection Dist.
Regarding weather, Redding meteorologist Chris Fontana forecasts that today’s temperatures will be about 3 to 6 degrees warmer than yesterday, with temperatures climbing steadily through the weekend and into next week, topping out as high as 102 to 107 by next Thursday in the valley and in the high 90s and low 100s in the foothills and mid-elevations. Click here for full forecast.
Stay tuned for updates.
Air tanker dumps retardant on Dale Fire near the end of Secluded Valley in west Redding. Photo by Joe McCarthy of Redding, taken approximately 1 mile from the fire line.
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Slideshow photos courtesy of readers Dave Mundt, Darla Hoeft, Duane Langshaw and journalist Candace Brown.
For updated online Calfire information click here.
For the Dale Fire information line, call (530) 225-2510.
Click here to hear the CDF-SHU, Redding Fire and Medical Dispatch emergency scanner feed that includes periodical information about the Dale Fire. (Click on the small speaker icon to listen. Do NOT click where it says download. That’s an ad.)
Click here for Redding Firefighters Facebook page to see more photos and video.
Readers, we welcome your information in the comments section. We are especially interested to hear from people in the Happy Valley, Cottonwood, Anderson and Igo/Ono communities.
Photos or longer comments may be emailed to donig.anewscafe@gmail.com.
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UPDATE: 11 p.m. – The Dale Fire, southwest of Redding, has burned about 1,200 acres, and the fire is 30 percent contained. Approximately 150 residences and 200 outbuildings have been threatened. Two outbuildings were destroyed in the fire and four residences were damaged.
Evacuations remain in effect for Diggins Way south of Placer Road, Clear Creek Road, Honeybee Road, Whispering Canyon Road, Cloverdale Road and Oak Street.
The Salvation Army has set up an evacuation and fire mobilization center at U-Prep School, east of Shasta High School, 2500 Eureka Way in Redding.
The fire’s cause remains under investigation.
As of 11 p.m. Thursday, resources thus far used to battle the Dale Fire include 394 personnel, 44 engines, nine fire crews, five air tankers, three helicopters, seven bulldozers and seven water tenders.
The fire is estimated to be about 30 percent contained, and continues to move in a northwest direction.
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Smoking hot sunset, by Duane Langshaw.
The Dale Fire that started at Dale Lane and Cloverdale Road in Happy Valley, southwest of Redding, has burned more than 1,200 acres. The fire remains about 30 percent contained.
Evacuations remain in effect in some parts of Happy Valley and its surrounding areas, specifically Diggins Way south of Placer Rd, Clear Creek Road, Honeybee Road, Whispering Canyon Drive, Cloverdale Road, Oak Street and Secluded Valley Road.
By 8 p.m. firefighters were reporting a “moderate rate of spread” though were considering evacuating some west Redding neighborhoods south of Placer, including those in the vicinity of Horsetown and Texas Springs roads.
Road closures include Clear Creek Road, and Cloverdale Road from Clover View Road to Oak St.
Dale Fire viewed from Hilltop Drive in Redding. Photo by Dave Mundt.
So far, about more than 1,000 acres have burned in what’s being called the Dale Fire, southwest of Redding in the location of Dale Lane and Cloverdale Road in Happy Valley, southeast of Redding. The fire is burning in a northwest direction.
Dale Fire as seen while driving east down Clear Creek Road. Photo by Darla Hoeft.
According to CalFire, the blaze began around 1:54 p.m. today, and is 30 percent contained. Presently the Dale Fire is being battled by 25 engines, eight fire crews, give air tankers, 2 helicopters, eight water-tenders.
A fire command staging center has been set up at Highway 273 and Clear Creek Road in Redding.
Tanker flies over west Redding on its way to the Dale Fire, southwest of Redding. Photo by Candace Brown.
Readers, we welcome your information in the comments section.
Photos or longer comments may be emailed to donig.anewscafe@gmail.com.
Independent online journalist Doni Chamberlain founded what’s now known as anewscafe.com in 2007 with her son, Joe Domke of the Czech Republic. Prior to 2007 Chamberlain was an award-winning newspaper opinion columnist, feature and food writer recognized by the Associated Press, the California Newspaper Publishers Association and E.W. Scripps. She lives in Redding, CA.
I just contacted the Red Cross and offered my three pastures for evacuated animals. I urge any of you who have the means to do the same.
Great idea, John. Bless you.
There is a second fire off Beunaventura heading towards Starlight.
this fire (the one near Buenaventura) is 3 blocks from us. police officer says it is contained and i heard it was only one house.
Thank you, Mark. Good to hear.
That leaves more resources for the Dale Fire, which is the biggest concern.
Yes, we know. I posted the news as soon as I got the information off the scanner. We will keep you posted as we learn more. Stay safe, everyone.
We just left Cloverdale and Clear Creek a little bit ago and those tanker and helicopter pilots are so good at what they do. Our Igo/ Ono Volunteer Fire Dept. have battled too many fires so far this year. We're very proud of them and grateful for all the fire fighters. We're really blessed to have such a great response. Say a little extra prayer for them all.
Thanks for the report, Kathleen. Those firefighters are pros, but prayers are always welcome, I'm sure.
We live near the airport and we've had Cal Fire planes flying over every 5 minutes for the past couple of hours. I'm praying everyone is safe.
BLESS THOSE PILOTS!
Does anyone have any updates on the evacuation area? The KRCR site's list hasn't changed since they were reporting the fire at 250 acres a couple of hours ago, and now they say it's 1000 acres. I have to believe that the evac area has widened with that kind of growth. I have a friend living very close to the reported mandatory evac area and am trying to keep up to date from 1900 miles away. I sure would like to know if she's in harm's way or not at this point. Thanks to anyone who has info!
Actually, the fire has burned more than 1,200 acres. Some west Redding neighborhoods, like those south of Placer Street, are under evacuation.
I am hoping the best for your friend. If it's any comfort, the firefighters are doing a great job, and no life or homes have been lost (yes, some outbuildings).
Keep the faith.
Cloverdale Road evacuations are lifted.
There is a link in the article to the Cal-Fire website it was updated at 9:30 pm. Hope this helps ease your fears.
Thanks very much, Karin. I should have paid more attention to the links in the first place. 🙂 That one doesn't have the updated info I was after, but I recently learned through other sources that my friend's street is under mandatory evacuation. I know what a great job our California firefighters do…if anyone can keep all those homes safe, they can!
I noticed that on the CalFire website it lists the names of roads and streets that are under evacuation, but I keep hearing on the scanner talk of other streets that aren't officially evacuated in Redding, such as Texas Springs and Horsetown.
btw, I list the updates on the top of this story. The last one was about 20 minutes ago. I wish your friend the best. Keep the faith.
Many thanks, Doni. I appreciate this forum for updates. The news this morning isn't as bad as I feared it would be; I hope the good night proves to be the turning point in getting this thing under control. I'll keep checking back.
It does look like things are more stable this morning … 40 percent contained. Cloverdale Road evacuations were lifted. We'll let you know if we hear any changes. Stay safe.
I live at the corner of Placer Rd. & Texas Springs Rd. If you look at a map, Horsetown road is my driveway.
There have been voluntary evacuations for this area (including our house), but the mandatory evacuations are a little bit further West on Placer.
Bless those wonderful firefighters who are still out there. I hope everyone else is safe.
Thank you for providing good information and a forum for others. I was very disillusioned at the lack of local information during an emergency on KQMS, although I did learn that our Chief Justice does not know the Constitution (or the will of his party). I followed links you provided to track the Dale fire and thus the state of close friends near the fire. I still have the 'scanner' running.
with gratitude…
You are most welcome.
Great job Doni, thank you. Crazy to think they have evacuation advisories all the way down to our place on the corner of Ranchland and Placer. I to was listening to the scanner yesterday. The pilots and fire fighters are amazing pros.
Good job of reporting, Doni! Much more informative than any other source.