Bear Fire prompts more evacuation orders in Butte County

The evacuation map provided by the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.

By Sharon Martin | smartin@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group

PUBLISHED: September 9, 2020 at 7:37 a.m. | UPDATED: September 9, 2020 at 8:25 a.m.

OROVILLE — The Butte County Sheriff’s Office has issued immediate evacuation orders for several areas due to the Bear Fire.

Areas under evacuation order include: Cherokee Road at Highway 70, south to Thompson Flat Cemetery Road and all areas east to Lake Oroville, the communities of Kelly Ridge and Copley Acres, the area east of Miners Ranch Road at Highway 162 and Oro-Bangor Highway, Bangor and part of the Mt. Ida area.

OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 9: The Bidwell Bar Bridge at Lake Oroville is inspected at dawn, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in a smoky sunrise scene after the Bear Fire raged overnight along Highway 162 near Oroville, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 9: An emergency vehicle traveling up Highway 162 Oroville, Calif., is dwarfed by a fire whirl generated by the Bear Fire raging around Lake Oroville, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 9: Madrone Lake is surrounded by flames as the Bear Fire surges toward Oroville, Calif., early Wednesday morning, Sept. 9, 2020, along Highway 162.(Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
BERRY CREEK, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 9: A home burns to the ground along Highway 162 in Berry Creek, Calif., east of Lake Oroville, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, a victim of the Bear Fire. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 9: Embers fly from burning trees n a time exposure photograph taken at Lake Oroville as the Bear Fire burns, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

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Oroville, South Oroville, Palermo, and Honcut are currently under an evacuation warning. Also under evacuation warnings are Highway 70 from Garden Drive, south to Lower Honcut Road, Lower Honcut Road east to Bangor, and everything east to the borders of the current evacuation orders.

The current evacuation zones can be found at https://sartopo.com/m/bd55.

A temporary evacuation point has been set up at the Butte County fairgrounds, 199 E. Hazel Street in Gridley, and at the Church of the Nazarene, 2238 Monte Vista Dr. Oroville.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, those who are evacuating must remain in their vehicle and a representative of Butte County and the American Red Cross will assist with sheltering needs.

A small-animal shelter has been set up at the Old County Hospital, 2279 Del Oro and Mono Streets in Oroville. Residents should bring pets in carriers, with food and water if possible.

According to Butte County, a large-animal center will open at Camelot Equestrian Park, 1985 Clark Road, Paradise, near Butte College. Do not leave large animals in barns, but out in pastures.

The evacuation orders are due to the Bear Fire which the U.S. Forest Service has been fighting south of Bucks Lake since mid-August. The fire merged with the Claremont Fire burning south of Quincy and is now being called the North Complex fire.

For Butte County residents, fire information is available at 538-7826.

#BearFire [update] View from Oro Quincy Highway (Hwy 162) at Forbestown Road. Fire has crested the hill across the lake from here. pic.twitter.com/q8i8FvHWW7

— CAL FIRE/Butte County Fire Department (@CALFIRE_ButteCo) September 9, 2020