“Badger fire” burns 450 acres, Evacuation order in place

COURTESY: CAL FIRE SISKIYOU

**UPDATE: As of 6 p.m. Monday evening all evacuation orders have downgraded to evacuation warnings.

YREKA, Calif. (KIEM)-The “Hoopa fire” is not the only blaze firefighters have to contend with, to the north of Humboldt County, since Saturday, firefighters near Yreka, California have been working overtime.

The “Badger fire” has burned 450-acres and only 15% of that fire has been contained so far, according to Cal Fire’s Public Information officer, Suzi Brady.

“Our inner agency command center received a call of smoke in the Hawkinsville-Humbug area. Our crews arrived on scene, they discovered that we had two fires,” she said.

According to Brady, one of the fires was called “Humbug incident”, while the other fire was called the “Badger incident”.

“Later on, Saturday afternoon, the “Badger incident” burned into the “Humbug”, so now the fire is just considered the “Badger incident”, says Brady.

Brady says, there is a mandatory emergency evacuation order in place for residents living on Hawkinsville-Humbug Road and all roads that come off Hawkinsville-Humbug.

Also, anyone living on the west side of U.S. Highway 263 North, to and including, Old Shasta River Road, and to Hudson Road are also under an evacuation warning, as those living south of Hawkinsville Road, including Loafer Road.

Brady says, there are no RV parks or campgrounds nearby. However, she stresses motorists avoid the area.         

“Folks that do have health issues, it is windy and so we will get smoke that will sometimes blow into the town of Yreka. It does not necessarily mean that the fire blew up or anything, it’s just the wind is shifting from the fire.”

She says people should take precautions to make sure their health issues are taken care of.

Brady has one last request for motorists who can see the flames from the road.

“I know folks like to pull over and take pictures when they see fires, that’s jeopardizing our engine crews and resources,” she said.

Brady advises motorist to keep the flow of traffic moving so their vehicles have movement to do their jobs expeditiously and safely.

For more information related to the “Badger fire” click here.  

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