California’s Mill Fire Destroys Over Ninety Buildings; Riverside County Blaze Kills 2

Firefighters continue to battle the Mountain Fire and the deadly Mill Fire burning in Northern California, which grew minimally Monday night following explosive starts Friday in Siskiyou County.

The Mill Fire has killed at least two residents, women ages 66 and 73, and has destroyed at least 91 buildings after igniting near the city of Weed on Friday afternoon and burning north into the community of Lake Shastina.

The blaze is now 4,263 acres (6.7 square miles) and is 55% contained, Cal Fire’s Siskiyou Unit said in a Tuesday morning incident update.

The wildfire displayed ‘smoldering and creeping’ behavior overnight, Cal Fire officials said Tuesday. While winds are expected to pick up in the area later in the afternoon, ‘the fire is not expected to grow.’

The Mill Fire continues to threaten about 411 structures, according to Cal Fire.