Mill fire nearly contained, Weed residents still concerned

Weed, Calif. — Fire crews and changing weather conditions are helping to snuff a wildfire just two miles outside of town. Both firefighters and residents of the town say nerves are still very much frayed from the fire that destroyed more than 150 homes less than two years ago.

“Just in the last couple of years, the last three years, it’s been kind of traumatic,” Noa Parker said.”Watching people lose everything they have.”

Parker has lived in Weed off and on for her entire life; she said she’ll never forget the fire that destroyed nearly 150 homes in Weed in September 2014. That’s why Thursday’s fire, just two miles east of town, was so scary. More than anything, Parker said it was unexpected.

“A fire in may, really?”

Fire crews were dispatched to the blaze Thursday afternoon, around 3:30 PM. After thick smoke was seen in the area, they brought a heavy response.

“We augmented the resources for a large wildland response,” Tim Devos said, a Battalion Chief with CAL FIRE.

Two air tankers had to fly up from Southern California to help. On the ground, firefighters have been working in the area ever since, stopping the growth around 60 acres in size.

“There is obviously still some deep-seeded heat and fire underneath,” Devos said.

While the flames are gone, crews are gauging the wildfire at 75-percent contained. They’re hoping the rain and snow will continue to help them in their mop-up effort, as it did Thursday night.

Fire crews will continue to monitor the site over the weekend. They’ll begin mopping up the fire zone early next week.