Containment grows on 2 of 3 big Shastaarea wildfires

Fire crews began to get the upper hand on two of three large fires burning in the northern expanses of the state Monday.

The Lava and Tennant fires in Siskiyou and Shasta counties mostly burned pockets of fuel within the blazes’ perimeters, keeping them from gaining much size. Crews had the Lava Fire contained to 71% and 25,000 acres Monday, up from 52% containment the day before. The Tennant Fire jumped to 53% containment, up from 29% containment 24 hours earlier, officials said. Progress allowed Caltrans to reopen Highway 97 by 6 p.m. Monday.

Meanwhile, the Salt Fire, on the northern edge of Shasta Lake, is at 20% containment and approaching 12,000 acres burned, fire officials said.

Firefighters hope to fully contain the Lava Fire, which started from a lightning strike on the slopes of Mount Shasta, by July 12. The fire spread over Union Pacific rail lines over the weekend and damaged trestle repair has already begun, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The fire’s most active spots are pockets of fuel on the northwest facing slopes of the mountain.

Temperatures dropped slightly in the area, but remained in the mid90s in the valleys and humidity levels dropped to midteens and winds gusted from 15 to 24 mph at different sections of the blaze. Officials said there was a slight chance of thunderstorms that could bring erratic winds and lightning strikes.

A few miles northeast at the Tennant Fire, crews burned out the eastern side of the fire, creating a several hundredfoot buffer on their control line. The blaze continued to burn remnants of the 2009 Tennant Fire and an island of unburned fuels that is not expected to threaten the control lines.

Winds are expected to pick up Tuesday, which will create critical dry and gusty fire weather conditions, officials said.

Crews made less progress with the Salt Fire in Shasta County, which is visible from Interstate 5. The fire, which has destroyed more than two dozen homes, was headed northwest toward Fenders Ferry, but crews were able to guide the fire toward the Sacramento River. Hot and dry conditions are expected to continue there too, and crews are protecting properties in the Fenders Ferry and Gilman Road areas.

The first priority Monday was the northwest corner of the fire, which is putting community members, power infrastructure and I5 at risk, fire officials said. The second priority was the fire’s southern border north of Gilman Road. Because of increased fire activity threatening structures, a new evacuation warning was issued Monday afternoon for Gilman Road from Old Mill Road to Top of the Hill Road.

Fire officials planned a community meeting at 6 p.m. Monday for residents affected by the Salt Fire, to be posted on the ShastaTrinity National Forest’s Facebook page.