The Lava Fire, ravaging through steep and rugged terrain near Mount Shasta and Lake Shastina in Siskiyou County, tripled in size overnight and was burning across 13,300 acres as of Tuesday morning.
Wind gusts as high as 50 mph contributed to the wildfire’s spread Monday to the east and southeast toward Mount Shasta, said Michelle Carbonaro, spokesperson for the inter-agency team managing the fire.
Around 800 fire personnel were working to keep the fire from spreading as of Tuesday afternoon. The fire was 20% contained mainly on the wildfire’s southwest side as of Tuesday morning, Carbonaro said.
Weather conditions for lightning-caused wildfires were expected to persist, including low humidity and increasing heat throughout the day.
The region is also still under an excessive heat warning until at least July 1. Just 3.5 miles away from the fire, the city of Weed has recorded triple-digit heat in recent days
The fire has also impacted infrastructure: A portion of Highway 97 is in the middle of the Lava Fire. Railway lines that connect California to the Pacific Northwest are also threatened by the fire, Carbonaro said. The fire jumped Highway 97 Monday afternoon.
LAVA FIRE FIRENADO: Raw Video As Lava Fire Whips Up Frightening Firenado
h/t Annie