I-5 closed by N. California wildfire until deemed safe

(Update: Fire grows to 22,000 acres; freeway to stay closed at least until Friday AM)

SHASTA-TRINITY NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. (AP) – Authorities are still mulling whether to reopen Interstate 5, a key West Coast highway that’s been closed for two days by a raging Northern California wildfire.

Officials must first determine if it’s safe to resume travel on a 45-mile stretch of Interstate 5 below the Oregon state line. The road was closed on Wednesday as fire erupted on both sides of the highway.

Fire spokesman Brandon Vacarro says work crews have cleared away burned and abandoned trucks that littered the road after the swift-moving blaze erupted, but they must also determine whether charred 70-foot trees along the road are in danger of falling.

The Delta Fire has burned more than 22,000 acres (34 square miles) and prompted evacuation orders for scattered homes and buildings in three counties in and around Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

The fire was human-caused, but authorities haven’t said whether it was an accident or arson.

The California Highway Patrol said Thursday the closure of I-5 in Shasta County has significantly snarled traffic. The agency warns motorists and truckers to avoid the region if possible.

CHP officer Jason Morton said the only alternate route around the closure is taking motorists up to eight hours to navigate. Morton said the 140-mile detour on Highway 299 to Route 89 has been bumper-to-bumper the entire route.

He said the winding, mountain roads funnel to one lane each way at many points, and traffic often slows to 1 mph.

Morton said officials will reassess the safety of reopening I-5 on Friday morning.

More information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6191/

The new fire comes just weeks after a devastating fire destroyed nearly 1,100 homes and killed eight people in the same area. That blaze, the Carr Fire, was declared contained just last week.