A rapidly spreading wildfire in Humboldt County has prompted evacuation warnings and forced officials to close a stretch of highway after flames pushed to the edge of the road.
The MP18 Fire, burning north of Hoopa, had expanded to 300 acres by Saturday morning after first being reported shortly after 7 p.m. Friday, Cal Fire said.
Highway 96 is fully closed in both directions between postmiles 15.5 and 19.5 as crews respond to the fire activity in the area.
Caltrans said the closure is expected to remain in place through Saturday, with authorities planning to reevaluate conditions Sunday morning.
Firefighting aircraft were already on scene Friday night, including two helicopters and an air tanker, while more crews and air resources were expected to join the response Saturday.
But the threat extends beyond the advancing flames.
Smoke from the wildfire has drifted into communities along the Highway 96 corridor, where air-quality monitors near Hoopa showed unhealthy conditions Saturday morning.
Complicating the firefight, a heat advisory remains in effect for interior Humboldt County, where temperatures are forecast to climb between 100 and 105 degrees.
Evacuation warnings were issued in three zones over a “potential threat to life and/or property,” according to Cal Fire.
