Camp Fire near Chico: California wildfire spreads to 8000 acres; thousands evacuated

Evacuations were ordered in Butte County Thursday after a wildfire grew to more than 1,000 acres.

Evacuations were ordered in Butte County Thursday after a wildfire grew to more than 1,000 acres.
Photo: Twitter / Cal Fire Butte Unit
The massive plume from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., wafts over the Sacramento Valley as seen from Chico, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Authorities in Northern California have ordered mandatory evacuations in a rural area where the wildfire has grown to 1,000 acres (405 hectares) amid hot and windy weather. (David Little/Chico Enterprise-Record via AP) less

The massive plume from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., wafts over the Sacramento Valley as seen from Chico, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Authorities in Northern ... more
Photo: David Little, AP
Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.

Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Cal Fire
Twitter user jackieglazerr captured dark plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire filling the sky over Fair Street in Chico.

Twitter user jackieglazerr captured dark plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire filling the sky over Fair Street in Chico.
Photo: Twitter
Nicole Kowalczyke of Chico stepped outside to look at smoke from the Camp Fire Thursday morning, and a singed piece of paper fell from the sky.

Nicole Kowalczyke of Chico stepped outside to look at smoke from the Camp Fire Thursday morning, and a singed piece of paper fell from the sky.
Photo: Nicole Kowalczyke
Smoke from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., darkens the sky as seen from Highway 99 near Marysville, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.

Smoke from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., darkens the sky as seen from Highway 99 near Marysville, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Don Thompson, AP
Napa County residents reported seeing smoke from the Camp Fire north of Sacramento on Nov. 8, 2018.

Napa County residents reported seeing smoke from the Camp Fire north of Sacramento on Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Craig Philpott
Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.

Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Twitter
Evacuations were ordered in Butte County Thursday after a wildfire grew to more than 1,000 acres.

Evacuations were ordered in Butte County Thursday after a wildfire grew to more than 1,000 acres.
Photo: Twitter / Cal Fire Butte Unit
Twitter user jackieglazerr captured dark plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire filling the sky over Fair Street in Chico.

Twitter user jackieglazerr captured dark plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire filling the sky over Fair Street in Chico.
Photo: Twitter
Evacuations were ordered in Butte County Thursday after a wildfire grew to more than 1,000 acres.

Evacuations were ordered in Butte County Thursday after a wildfire grew to more than 1,000 acres.
Photo: Twitter / Cal Fire Butte Unit
Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.

Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Twitter
Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.

Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Twitter
Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.

Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Twitter
Evacuations were ordered in Butte County Thursday after a wildfire grew to more than 1,000 acres.

Evacuations were ordered in Butte County Thursday after a wildfire grew to more than 1,000 acres.
Photo: Twitter / Cal Fire Butte Unit

Photo: Twitter / Cal Fire Butte Unit

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Evacuations were ordered in Butte County Thursday after a wildfire grew to more than 1,000 acres.

Photo: Twitter / Cal Fire Butte Unit

Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate several Sierra foothills towns near Chico on Thursday as a wildfire raged out of control, growing rapidly to more than 8,000 acres.

“Multiple” structures have burned, said Scott McLean, a spokesman with the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. There was no immediate word on whether anyone had been injured.

The blaze, dubbed the Camp Fire, started in the area of Camp Creek Road and Pulga Road near Highway 70 in the Feather River Canyon, said Cal Fire officials said.

#CampFire On Skyway in Paradise CA. Two spot fires on skyway as of 20 mins ago #CalFire pic.twitter.com/6HbjUBYbEP
— Alan (@AlanIngram02) November 8, 2018

The Butte County towns of Paradise, Pulga and Concow were evacuated shortly after the fire started about 6:30 a.m. Cal Fire officials said that residents of Magalia, Butte Creek Canyon and Butte Valley have also been ordered to leave.

Skyway Road and parts of Highway 70 are closed, CHP and Caltrans officials said, and residents are being asked to evacuate using alternate roads. Officers are redirecting traffic on northbound Highway 99 near the Highway 149 junction southward.

The Paradise Unified School District and Butte College closed their doors Thursday morning under evacuation orders from fire officials. Feather River Hospital in Paradise was also being evacuated as of 9 a.m. The fire had jumped a road leading to the hospital.

As of noon, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. reported that 34,280 customers in Butte County and neighboring Plumas had lost power. The outages began at 7:45 a.m. near Big Bend and Concow, PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno said.

People took to social media to plead for evacuation help for elderly residents of Paradise, which is home to many retirees. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office tweeted that deputies were trying to reach trapped people.

Evacuations are also coming down Forest Ave into Chico. @theorion_news pic.twitter.com/ypRbjd9DOe
— vegan turkey (@NatalieH_Orion) November 8, 2018

#campfire from Fair street in Chico. My little heart is breaking for the Ridge. Stay safe Paradise and surrounding communities pic.twitter.com/wCXS7gE9dD
— jackie (@jackieglazerr) November 8, 2018

Red Cross officials said there were about 40 evacuees at their two shelters in Oroville and Chico as of 12:50 p.m., and supplies were on the way to a third shelter at the Butte County Fairgrounds.

The fire has sent dark clouds of smoke over Chico and as far south as the Bay Area.

A smoke advisory has been issued for the Bay Area through Friday, air district officials said. Residents may see or smell smoke from the Camp Fire.

Nearly 27,000 people call Paradise home. The incorporated town is about 10 miles east of Chico in the foothills north of Sacramento.

Pulga and Concow are both small, rural unincorporated communities in Butte County. Concow has about 710 residents. Pulga had two residents when it was sold in 2015, according to media reports.

Several shelters have opened in Butte County to accommodate evacuees:

•Oroville Nazarene Church at 2238 Monte Vista Avenue. in Oroville

•Neighborhood Church at 2801 Notre Dame Boulevard in Chico

•East Ave Church at 1185 East Avenue in Chico

•Butte County Fairgrounds at 199 East Hazel Street in Gridley

•The Old County Hospital at 2279 Del Oro Ave. in Orovile is accepting small animals

Megan Cassidy and Gwendolyn Wu are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy @gwendolynawu

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