Interstate 5 still closed, businesses slumping as Delta fire continues to burn in Shasta County

Interstate 5 still closed, businesses slumping as Delta fire continues to burn in Shasta County, north of Redding

A roughly 45-mile section of Interstate 5 — the main artery between Northern California and the Oregon border — will remain closed indefinitely as firefighters continue to battle a wildfire burning along both sides of the freeway north of Redding, authorities said Friday.

Officials closed the freeway Wednesday afternoon shortly after the Delta fire broke out in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, burning over the tops of pine and fir trees along the roadway and forcing some to abandon their vehicles to escape the flames.

The blaze had consumed 24,558 acres by Friday morning and is still actively burning along the interstate. It is not clear when the road will reopen, according to Capt. Brandon Vaccaro, a fire spokesman.

On Wednesday, California Highway Patrol officers had to send cars and trucks through a 12-foot gap in the I-5 center median designed for emergency vehicles. Many were able to turn around and escape the flames, but about 17 semis were abandoned by drivers who couldn’t maneuver their trucks out in time. At least four of the trucks were burned.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-delta-fire-update-20180907-story.html