UPDATE: Rancho Fire in Cottonwood grows to over 150 acres. Evacuation orders in place
A vegetation fire in Cottonwood on Thursday afternoon has burned more than 150 acres and prompted evacuation orders as structures are threatened.
The Rancho Fire was reported around 1:30 p.m. in the area of Rancho Estates Road north of Gas Point Road in Cottonwood. It had quickly grown to nearly 50 acres around 2 p.m. as it was burning in grass and oak woodlands, according to Cal Fire.
But by 3 p.m., Cal Fire had estimated the blaze had burned 157 acres with zero containment. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
There are evacuation orders in place for zones COT-9660 and AND-9750.
Residents living just to the north and southeast of where the fire is burning are under evacuation warnings. The zones are AND-1800, AND-9590, COT-9710, COT-9720, COT-9730, and COT-9740, according to the Shasta County Sheriff's Office.
Rancho Estates Road at Gas Point is closed to northbound traffic; Rhonda Road at Lynhart and Rhonda Road at Gas Point were closed, but Rhonda Road was reopened to traffic just after 3:30 p.m., according to dispatch reports.
Firefighters have relayed to dispatchers that winds in the area are causing spot fires to break out.
Wind was gusting up to 20 mph on Thursday afternoon with the temperature hovering in the mid-90s, the National Weather Service.
The forecast for Friday and the weekend calls for cooler temperatures, but wind will continue to gust between 20 and 30 mph in Shasta County.
The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch for the North State on Saturday.
The high Friday will be 79 degrees. Saturday's high is expected to be 81 degrees.
A red flag warning alerts people that there is an increased risk of fire danger brought on by warm temperatures, low humidities and stronger winds, according to a NWS office in Michigan. A new fire can grow rapidly under a red flag warning, according to the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
People can help prevent fires from starting by removing dead shrubbery around their homes and avoiding using power equipment that creates sparks, NPR reported. Other tips from the IAFC include not driving your vehicle on dry grass as the heat from the underside of your vehicle can start a fire and never throwing cigarettes or matches out of a car.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Rancho Fire prompts evacuations in Cottonwood area
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