Mill Fire in Siskiyou County explodes to nearly 4,000 acres

Firefighters in Siskiyou County are battling the quick moving Mill Fire. On Saturday officials say the fire had already burned 3,921 acres, is 20-percent contained and has burned numerous homes. 

Thousands have been evacuated from Weed and Lake Shastina. The Mill Fire started just before 1 p.m. and quickly raced through the Lincoln Heights area of Weed.

"We came outside and we just saw a blaze and it was kindling. It went up and out," said witness Hope Lovejoy. Lovejoy was at the Mercantile Mall across the street and could feel the heat from the flames. He said some people had only minutes to escape their homes.

"We felt very sad, incredibly sad about the fire. People would come here and sit on the benches and just be crying because their houses were burning down," said Lovejoy.

Devastating video shows dozens houses burned to the ground along Highway 97 and East Lincoln Avenue. There’s charred vehicles and police tape surrounding some properties.

Weed City Councilmember Sue Tavalero said that neighborhood has a couple churches, many family homes, and is where some longtime, elderly residents live.

"Even a slow moving fire, people especially if they’re older, disabled, they might not be able to get out. That’s a concern with any fire," said Tavalero.

"This is an explosive fire - what we call rapid or extreme fire spread," said Jonathan Cox with Cal Fire. Cox said the priority is to slow progression and get people to safety.

"It’s really a difficult situation because it’s burning in the wildland urban interface which means there’s a lot of homes scattered about in and amongst the fire perimeter," said Cox.An evacuation Shelter is set up at the Karuk wellness center at 1403 Kahtishraam Street. 

The fire has prompted the closure of U.S. 97. According to Caltrans, the highway is closed from the junction with State Route 265 in Weed to south of Macdoel. There is no estimated time of reopening. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Siskiyou County which will bring added aid to the area. 

This story is developing, KTVU will update this story as new information is made available.