UPDATE, TUESDAY, 8:07 a.m.: As of this morning, the federal Northern California Operations Center’s News and Notes page is reporting the Dance Fire at 350 acres and 10 percent contained. “Power is off in Orleans, structure protection in progress.” —HS

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UPDATE 10:50 P.M.: According to Julie Ranieri, the Six Rivers National Forest spokesperson, there is 0% containment.  The fire started near the junction of Camp Creek Rd and Hwy 96 and it is “running northeast.”

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UPDATE 10:33 P.M.: 

Six Rivers National Forest Press Release:

The Dance Fire, which started along Highway 96 near Camp Creek Road, has caused the evacuation of local residents in and near the town of Orleans, CA. Residents are being evacuated to Junction Elementary School in Somes Bar.

The fire started today at 5:15 p.m. and is now over 200 acres. Hundreds of structures are threatened, power lines and phone lines are down, and Highway 96 near Orleans has been closed. Resources from the following agencies are on scene: Six Rivers and Klamath National Forest, Cal Fire, Hoopa Fire Department, Orleans Volunteer Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, County Sheriff’s Office, Forest Service law enforcement officers, and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

Additional fire resources have been order, including a Type 2 Incident Management Team that will assume command of the fire on Tuesday afternoon. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

UPDATE 9:40 P.M.: Julie Ranieri, a spokesperson for Six Rivers National Forest, says that because power and phone services are out and structures are threatened that she believes that sheriff deputies and other agencies are going door to door letting people know that they need to evacuate. A press release should be out soon.

UPDATE 9:15 P.M.: A Cal Fire spokesperson says that his agency is assisting on the fire.  There are structures threatened.  The fire has burned approximately 150 acres. There are currently five Cal Fire engines and four inmate hand crews and a bulldozer on the incident.  Earlier there was a helicopter and four air tankers on it as well.

Caltrans has advised that Hwy 96 was closed one mile south of Orleans at 7:25 P.M. due to a wildfire.  Motorists are advised to use an alternate route.