Fast-growing wildfire near Red Bluff explodes to 6,500 acres

Ignited at 11:33 a.m. on Thursday, the Red Bank Fire had grown to 6,000 acres as of Thursday night. On Friday morning, it was 6,500 acres with 5% containment. Ignited at 11:33 a.m. on Thursday, the Red Bank Fire had grown to 6,000 acres as of Thursday night. On Friday morning, it was 6,500 acres with 5% containment. Photo: PG&E Photo: PG&E Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Fast-growing wildfire near Red Bluff explodes to 6,500 acres 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Tearing across rolling, grassy terrain, the Red Bank Fire, 25 miles west of Red Bluff in Tehama County has exploded to 6,500 acres with 5% containment as of Friday morning.

The blaze was ignited by a lightning strike and fire crews responded to a call at 11:33 a.m. on Thursday regarding flames near Balis Bell Road and Lanyan Trail. By Thursday night, the fire had grown to 6,000 acres.

"It's burning in remote terrain where there are not a lot of roadways," says CalFire Deputy Chief Scott McLean. "Aircraft has been prominent in the fight. The smoky conditions have inhibited getting aircraft into some areas. Resources are pouring into the area."

McLean says hot weather on Thursday exacerbated the flames, but cooler conditions overnight dampened the fast pace of the fire's spread.

Friday is expected to be another warm day with the high in Red Bluff expected to be 96 degrees, which is 3 degrees above normal for this time of year. Saturday will be cooler as 88 as a weather system moves across Northern California and carries a cool air mass into the region. This should help with the fire fight.

Mandatory evacuations are in place for R-Wild Horse Ranch, Pettyjohn Road to USFS boundary and Red Bank Oaks subdivision. The fire has yet to burn any structures but multiple structures are threatened, according to CalFire's report. McLean says some seasonal cabins are in the area where the flames are now

A weather system on Thursday carried monsoonal moisture into the region and and more than 19,000 lightning strikes were reported around Northern California. A second fire about 200 acres in size was reported about 10 miles west of the Red Bank Fire was first spotted.

McLean says September and October are usually when California's largest fires occur. The combination of 100 degree days and dry brush exacerbates these's fast moving fires.

Amy Graff is a digital reporter for SFGATE. Email her story tips and photos at agraff@sfgate.com.