2024 California wildfires
2024 California wildfires | |
---|---|
Statistics[1] | |
Total fires | 2,429 |
Total area | 95,562 acres (38,677 ha) |
Impacts | |
Deaths | 0[1] |
Non-fatal injuries | 3 |
Structures destroyed | 26 (24 damaged)[1] |
Season | |
← 2023 |
The 2024 California wildfire season is an ongoing series of wildfires that have been burning throughout the U.S. state of California. As of June 24, 2024[update], a total of 2,429 wildfires have burned a cumulative 95,562 acres (38,673 ha). Year-to-date, the number of wildfires is below the five-year average; the number of acres burned is above it.[2] Wildfires have destroyed 26 structures in the state in 2024.[3]
Background
The timing of "fire season" in California is variable, depending on the amount of prior winter and spring precipitation, the frequency and severity of weather such as heat waves and wind events, and moisture content in vegetation. Northern California typically sees wildfire activity between late spring and early fall, peaking in the summer with hotter and drier conditions. Occasional cold frontal passages can bring wind and lightning. The timing of fire season in Southern California is similar, peaking between late spring and fall. The severity and duration of peak activity in either part of the state is modulated in part by weather events: downslope/offshore wind events can lead to critical fire weather, while onshore flow and Pacific weather systems can bring conditions that hamper wildfire growth.[4][5]
Narrative
By the end of spring (June 20), the total area burned by wildfires in California was nearly 90,000 acres (36,000 ha). This early spike in activity was primarily from wind-driven grass fires, more than 30 of which occurred on several days in mid-June with low humidity, high temperatures, and strong winds.[5]
List of wildfires
The following is a list of fires that have burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties.
Name | County | Acres | Start date | Containment date | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
School | Kern | 1,479 | May 2 | May 3 | [6] | |
Hill | Santa Barbara | 1,383 | May 28 | June 1 | [7] | |
Firebaugh | Madera | 1,300 | May 30 | May 30 | [8] | |
Corral | San Joaquin | 14,168 | June 1 | June 6 | Destroyed one home and injured two firefighters. Prompted highway closures and evacuation orders near Tracy. | [9][10] |
West | Kern | 1,575 | June 2 | June 6 | [11] | |
Road | Kern | 1,088 | June 4 | June 6 | [12] | |
Lost | Kern | 3,600 | June 6 | June 11 | [13] | |
Bear | San Luis Obispo | 1,410 | June 12 | June 14 | [14] | |
Junes | Butte | 1,056 | June 15 | June 18 | Destroyed one structure. | [15] |
Post | Los Angeles, Ventura | 15,563 | June 15 | Began near Gorman, burned parallel to Interstate 5; caused the evacuation of ~1,200 people in nearby recreation areas. Destroyed one structure, injured one person. | [16][17] | |
Hesperia | San Bernardino | 1,078 | June 15 | June 24 | [18] | |
Point | Sonoma | 1,207 | June 16 | June 24 | One injury, four structures destroyed, 1,207 acres burned. Prompted evacuations of some 400 residents northwest of Dry Creek Valley. | [19] |
Sites | Colusa | 19,195 | June 17 | [20][21] | ||
Aero | Calaveras | 5,351 | June 17 | Caused evacuations in both Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, damaged one structure and destroyed three. | [22][23] | |
Apache | Butte | 673 | June 24 | Prompted evacuations in Butte County. A firefighter has been injured, and the fire has destroyed two structures. | [24] |
See also
- 2024 Arizona wildfires
- 2024 Colorado wildfires
- 2024 New Mexico wildfires
- 2024 Oregon wildfires
- List of California wildfires
References
- ^ a b c "Current Emergency Incidents". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Statistics". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ "2024 Incident Archive". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ "Weather: Fire Season Climatology (Northern California)". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Toohey, Grace (June 22, 2024). "California wildfires have already burned 90,000 acres, and summer is just beginning". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ "School Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ "Hill Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ "Firebaugh Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Corral Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ "Containment on Corral Fire increases; evacuations lifted after more than 14,000 acres burned". CBS News. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ "West Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ "Road Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ "Lost Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ "Bear Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Junes Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Post Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ Curwen, Thomas (June 16, 2024). "Post fire near Gorman burns 11,000 acres, prompts evacuations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "Hesperia Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "Point Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Sites Fire". Watch Duty. Watch Duty. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Sites Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Aero Fire". Watch Duty. Watch Duty. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Aero Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Apache Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 25, 2024.