Red Bluff Daily News By Town of Manton evacuated Saturday, August 27, 2005 - CHERYL BRINKLEY-DN Staff Writer MANTON The entire community of Manton was evacuated Friday afternoon when fire consumed between 30 and 40 structures. Just before 3 p.m. Friday, a fire was reported in Manton. A short time later, fire officials said on the scanner that there were two fires and structures were threatened. At 7:30 p.m., information from California Department of Forestry said more than 1,000 acres were burned, and the fire was moving in a northwesterly direction. At that time, between 30 and 40 structures had been destroyed, including seven or eight trailers in a trailer park in downtown Manton. There was no power, no phones and no cell phone service Friday evening. The school, church, post office and cemetery were saved, officials said Friday. The fire was raging in the Bear Creek drainage area. Firefighters attempted to make a stand in the Rock Creek area Friday evening, but had to move back. 4 p.m., roads were being closed. Initial reports were that the fire began on Manton Road near the post office. The roads affected by the fire and closures include: Manton Road, Forward, Wild Cat Road to Ponderosa Way, Wilson-Hill, Rock Creek and South Powerhouse Road Manton School students were evacuated to the Black Butte School in Shingletown until parents could pick them up. The bus from Red Bluff Union High School was diverted to Plum Creek School in Paynes Creek until parents could pick up their teenagers. The contact person for Black Butte School is Bob Douglas at 949-1332. The contact person for Plum Valley School is Vic Ciardi at 524-9190 or 529-8700. Evacuation centers were set up at Black Butte School and at the Tehama District Fairground. The Red Cross set up the evacuation center in the Tyler-Jelly Building at the fairground. Linda Hasley from the Shasta County Unit was first on hand. "Potentially, we expect at least 200 evacuees," Hasley said. A Red Cross disaster action team set up cots, provided food and water, showers and a mobile kitchen. Pets are also accepted. "People are already stopping in to check on family members before anyone is even here," Hasley said Friday evening. One Red Bluff woman was at the fairground looking for her father and sister. The Red Cross has nurses on staff and mental health services, Hasley said in the event anyone might need someone to talk to because of the trauma. The Red Cross also provides on-site volunteers if needed at the evacuation center. CDF, the Tehama County Fire Department and the Shasta County Ranger Unit were initially reported as working the fire. There were no reported injuries Friday evening. Emergency contact numbers, or for assistance: Red Cross 1-800-934-5344, Salvation Army 527-8530, Tehama County Sheriff's Department 529-7900, California Department of Forestry 528-5150. Staff writer Cheryl Brinkley can be reached at 527-2151, extension 115, or clerk@redbluffdailynews.com


Rhonda