Updated: 8:35 a.m. 9-12-14
Firefighters have made great progress towards containing a wildfire in Shasta County that quickly spiraled out of control Wednesday afternoon, and officials have lifted evacuations in the community of Bella Vista. The Gulch Fire, east of Redding in Jones Valley, jumped from 15 to 45% containment and has burned 1300 acres.
The Gulch Fire began early Wednesday morning after embers from a vehicle fire blew towards dry vegetation. That five acre fire was almost completely contained when winds picked up and a spot fire jumped the containment line at noon and raged out of control, heading towards residential areas, causing mandatory evacuations for over 100 homes.
Around noon Thursday Cal Fire lifted all evacuations and road closures except Backbone Ridge Road through Seaman Gulch Road at Hwy 299 and Revine Road. These areas are open to residents only.
No structures were burned, although the vehicle and a recreational trailer were destroyed.
