BUTTE COUNTY (CBS13) – Update on Bear Fire, the sequel to the Northern Complex Fire that started the Plumas National Forest:
10:30 am
Cal Fire gave a new name to the wildfire that destroyed or damaged thousands of buildings.
Authorities have announced that Bear Fire will now be called the western zone of the northern complex, Cal Fire said Thursday morning.
It is unclear why the name was changed, but the new designation reflects how the wildfire is part of a larger Northern Complex fire that burned for almost a month before exploding this week.
Cal Fire also listed a total of 2,000 structures destroyed or damaged as of Thursday morning. It is unclear how many of these structures were houses at the time. Another 22,356 structures remain under threat.
As of Thursday, the North Zone / Bear Fire complex has grown to 70,250 acres. The containment is still 0 percent.
7:57 am
Butte County authorities on Thursday were looking for at least 12 people missing in the Bear Fire after three people were found dead Wednesday.
One mother, Jessica Williams, reported the loss of her 16-year-old son, Josia. He was last seen at Berry Creek, and as of Thursday morning, she says she still hasn’t been able to reach him.
READ MORE: Mother Seeks 16-Year-Old Son After Bear Fire Destroyed Berry Creek Community
About 20,000 people are under evacuation orders in the area due to the bear fire, which is part of the Northern Complex fires in Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties.
After a serious gust of hurricane in the last few days, the fire broke out after three weeks of burning. Hundreds of houses and other structures were damaged or destroyed. As of Thursday morning, the Northern Complex fires have burned 252,163 acres, or nearly 400 square miles, with a 24 percent containment – up from 51 percent before these new outbreaks.
Parts of the Paradise and Konkou communities that were devastated by a camp fire in 2018 are again threatened by Bearfire.
The US Forest Service said Thursday it was predicted that winds would move southwest, which could lead to increased fire and smoke.
