Ponderosa Fire, Day 4

Here is the latest on the Ponderosa Fire as of 7:15 a.m. today, courtesy of CalFire's incident information page:

Date/Time Started: August 18, 2012 11:37 am
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Tehama-Glenn Unit
County: Tehama / Shasta Counties
Location: Off Ponderosa Way, southeast of Manton
Acres Burned: 19,627 acres
Containment 19,627 acres - 35% contained
Structures Destroyed: 7 structures destroyed
Threatened: 3,065 residences, 20 commercial properties and 300 outbuildings
Evacuations: Evacuations for the following areas in Manton, Shingletown & Viola:

Forward Rd at Graham to the C Line
Forward Mill Rd from Rock Creek Rd to Forward Camp Rd
Rock Creek Rd from Manton Rd to Long Hay Flat Rd
All of Long Hay Flat Rd and Woodcutter Way
Southside of Highway 44 from Viola to Brush Oak
Northside of Hwy 44 from Viola to Alward
Hazen Rd area and South Power House Rd south of Manton
Hwy 44 at Brush Oak east to and including Viola, Plateau Pines, Starlight Pines and Lake McCumber area
South side of Hwy 44 from Viola to Brush Oak and on the north side of Hwy 44 from Viola to Alward.

Evacuation warnings have been issued for Hwy 36 from Ponderosa Sky Ranch to Lassen Lodge communities.
Cause: Lightning
Cooperating Agencies: CAL FIRE, Tehama and Shasta County Sheriff, CHP, CDCR, CAL TRANS, SPI, PG&E
Total Fire Personnel: 1,886 (937 CAL FIRE)
Engines: 223 (87 CAL FIRE)
Fire crews: 38 (26 CAL FIRE)
Helicopters: 6 helicopters
Dozers: 47 (17 CAL FIRE)
Water tenders: 33 water tenders
Conditions: Access to previously inaccessible areas of the fire will allow a more thorough damage assessment to take place. Fire has expanded to the east and south in the Battle Creek drainage

Road Closures:
Hard road closure on Hwy 44 from Brush Creek Rd to Viola and Forward Rd at Manton Corners.
Rock Creek at Wilson Hill Rd off of Manton Rd.
Manton Rd and all roads leading out of Manton have been closed at Hwy 44 at Brush Oak.
Hwy 44 in Shingletown and Viola areas and all roads south are in controlled traffic mode.
Highway 299 should be used as an alternate route, due to Highway 44 closures.

The Red Cross has opened up an Evacuation Shelter at Big League Dreams - 20155 Viking Way - Redding.

Manton School and Plum Valley Elementary School in Paynes Creek have been closed until further notice.