Firefighters keep watch in Weed after destructive blaze

Reporting from Weed, Calif. — Firefighters are keeping a wary eye on the remnants of a wildfire that devastated the town of Weed, hoping a potential surge of high winds doesn’t spread any embers that could spark new blazes.

Meanwhile, many residents are still unable to return to their devastated neighborhoods to take stock of what remains. The fast-moving, intense fire destroyed or damaged about 150 buildings, including many homes, two churches and a library.

“It took on a life of its own,” said Michael Kobseff, the Siskiyou County supervisor whose district includes Weed. “No one could have foreseen anything like this happening.”

Officials are still assessing the damage from the blaze, called the Boles fire after the creek where it began. The cause remains under investigation, and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Amy Head said there was a $10,000 award for information.

At a community meeting on Tuesday night, officials said the ongoing drought helped fuel the blaze.

Without rain, “every day that goes by, conditions get worse,” said Steve Kaufman of Cal Fire.

Since the blaze, members of the community have been donating clothes and food, and some are volunteering to help remove damaged trees and debris.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Weed Mayor Bob Hall said. “But if we all do a little, great things will happen.”

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