Delta Fire Aftermath. On September 5th, 2018, the Delta Fire ignited along Interstate 5, approximately two miles north of Lakehead, California. The fire grew rapidly, closing Interstate 5 and the nearby Union Pacific Valley Subdivision. All in all, the Delta Fire burned over 60,000 acres of Shasta National Forest and destroyed 20 structures.
Ten months later, the Delta Fire burn scar is still clearly visible. Hillsides that were once lined with trees are now cleared. Annual grasses and shrubs have started to regrow, a sign that the forest will eventually recover.
The canyon serves as a vital transportation route connecting California with the Pacific Northwest. In this shot, a heavy southbound train from Portland snakes alongside the Sacramento River at Lamoine, California. Union Pacific 1982, the heritage unit commemorating the Missouri Pacific Railroad, leads the charge.