Jump to content

2020 California wildfires

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 206.167.216.8 (talk) at 19:48, 10 September 2020. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

2020 California Wildfires
September 9 satellite image of the wildfires burning in California and Oregon
Statistics[2]
Total fires7,606
Total area3,105,184 acres (1,256,623 ha)[1]
Impacts
Deaths10
Non-fatal injuries37
Structures destroyed4,265
Damage>$819.95 million (2020 USD)[1]
Season
← 2019
2021 →
Aurora Fire
An August 19, 2020 satellite image of the wildfires burning in Northern California, covering a significant portion of California and nearby states.

The 2020 California wildfire season is a series of ongoing wildfires that are burning across the state of California. The peak of the wildfire season usually occurs between July and November when hot, dry winds are most frequent. The wildfire season typically does not end until the first significant rainstorm of winter arrives, which is usually around October in Northern California, and roughly between early November to December in Southern California. As of September 9, 2020, a total of 7,606 fires have burned 2,936,955 acres (1,188,544 ha), making 2020 the largest wildfire season recorded in California history, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.[1][3][4] Climate change has increased the risk of wildfires in California significantly.[5][6]

On August 19, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom reported that the state was battling 367 known fires, many sparked by intense thunderstorms on August 16–17 caused by moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Elida and Tropical Storm Fausto. Response and evacuations were complicated by a historic heatwave and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The governor declared a state of emergency on August 18.[7]

Early outlook

Early in the year, there was a concern for the potential 2020 fire season to be prolonged and especially grave due to the unusually dry months of January and February, one of the driest such periods of any calendar year on record.[8] On March 22, a state of emergency was declared by California governor Gavin Newsom due to a mass die-off of trees throughout the state, potentially increasing the risk of wildfires.[9] However, throughout March and April, rain began to consistently fall in the state, which alleviated the drought conditions. However, Northern California was expected to have severe wildfire conditions due to the moderate or severe drought conditions in the area, whereas Central and Southern California were expected to have serious fire conditions later in the year due to the late wet season and precipitation.[10]

Wildfires

See also: August 2020 California lightning wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Notes Ref
Interstate 5 Kings 2,060 May 3 May 7 [11]
Range San Luis Obispo 5,000 May 27 May 28 [12]
Scorpion Santa Barbara 1,395 May 31 June 1 [13]
Quail Solano 1,837 June 6 June 10 3 structures destroyed [14][15]
Wood San Diego 11,000 June 8 June 12 Burned on Camp Pendleton [16]
India San Diego 1,100 June 8 June 14 Burned on Camp Pendleton [17]
Soda San Luis Obispo 1,672 June 10 June 11 2 structures destroyed [18][19]
Grant Sacramento 5,042 June 12 June 17 [20]
Walker Calaveras 1,455 June 16 June 20 2 structures destroyed [21]
River San Luis Obispo 15 June 22 June 23 2 structures destroyed, 9 damaged [22]
Grade Tulare 1,050 June 22 June 26 [23]
Pass Merced 2,192 June 28 June 30 [24]
Bena Kern 2,900 July 1 July 3 [25]
Crews Santa Clara 5,513 July 5 July 13 1 structure destroyed; 1 damaged; 1 injury. Resulted in evacuations of rural Gilroy. [26]
Soledad Los Angeles 1,525 July 5 July 15 1 injury [27]
Mineral Fresno 29,667 July 13 July 26 7 structures destroyed [28] [29]
Coyote San Benito 1,508 July 15 July 18 [30]
Hog Lassen 9,564 July 18 August 8 2 structures destroyed [31]
Gold Lassen 22,634 July 20 August 8 13 structures destroyed; 5 structures damaged; 2 firefighters injured in burnover [32]
July Complex 2020 Modoc, Siskiyou 83,261 July 22 August 7 1 structure destroyed; 3 outbuildings destroyed [33]
Blue Jay Mariposa, Tuolumne 2,100 July 24 15% contained as of September 9 Lightning-sparked [34]
Red Salmon Complex Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity 71,610 July 26 18% contained as of September 9 Originally started as both the Red and Salmon fire (both started by lightning strikes), but have since merged into one fire [35][36]
Apple Riverside 33,424 July 31 95% contained, as of August 27 4 structures destroyed; 8 outbuildings destroyed; 4 injuries [37]
Pond San Luis Obispo 1,962 August 1 August 8 1 structure destroyed; 1 damaged; 13 outbuildings destroyed[38] [39]
North Lassen 6,882 August 2 August 10 6,882 acres in total, of which approximately 4,105 acres burned in Washoe County, Nevada [40]
Stagecoach Kern 7,760 August 3 August 16 23 structures destroyed; 4 damaged; 25 outbuildings destroyed; 2 damaged;[41] 1 firefighter fatality[42] [43]
Lake Los Angeles 31,089 August 12 95% contained, as of August 31 Lightning-sparked, 33 structures destroyed; 6 damaged; 21 outbuildings destroyed; 2 injuries [44]
Ranch 2 Los Angeles 4,237 August 13 96% contained, as of August 26 Lightning-sparked [45]
Loyalton Lassen, Plumas, Sierra 47,029 August 15 93% contained as of August 23 Lightning-sparked, Caused National Weather Service to issue first ever Fire Tornado Warning; 5 homes, 6 outbuildings destroyed [46][47]
Hills Fresno 2,121 August 15 August 24 Lightning-sparked; 1 fatality [48]
River Monterey 48,088 August 16 September 4 Lightning-sparked; 30 structures destroyed; 13 structures damaged; 4 injuries [49]
Dome San Bernardino 43,273 August 16 95% contained, as of August 21 Lightning-sparked, Burned in the Mojave National Preserve [50]
Beach Mono 3,780 August 16 August 28 Lightning-sparked [51]
SCU Lightning Complex Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Merced, Stanislaus 396,624 August 16 97% contained, as of September 10 Deer Zone, Marsh, Canyon Zone and other surrounding fires combined into one multi-fire incident by CalFire; all believed to have been sparked by an intense and widespread lightning storm; 224 structures destroyed; 26 structures damaged; 5 injuries. It is the third-largest fire complex in California history. [52]
August Complex Glenn, Mendocino, Lake, Tehama, Trinity 471,185 August 16 24% contained, as of September 9 Lightning strikes started 35 fires, several of which grew to large sizes, especially the Doe Fire; 1 firefighter injury; 1 firefighter fatality. It is the largest fire complex in California history. [53][54]
CZU Lightning Complex San Mateo, Santa Cruz 86,509 August 16 84% contained as of September 10 Several lightning-sparked fires burning close together across San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties; 1,490 structures destroyed; 140 structures damaged; 1 injury; 1 fatality. [55]
Rattlesnake Tulare 1,060 August 16 0% contained, as of September 8 Lightning sparked a slow-growing fire in inaccessible terrain. [56]
LNU Lightning Complex Colusa, Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo 375,209 August 17 94% contained as of September 10 Multi-fire incident that includes the Hennessey Fire, Gamble Fire, 15-10 Fire and several other small fires sparked by lightning; 1,491 structures destroyed; 232 structures damaged; 4 injuries; 5 fatalities. It is the fourth-largest fire complex in California history. [57]
Holser Ventura 3,000 August 17 September 6 [58]
Butte/Tehama/Glenn Lightning Complex (Butte Zone) Butte 2,782 August 17 80% contained, as of August 31 Lightning sparked 34 fires throughout Butte County [59]
Elkhorn Tehama, Trinity 255,039 August 17 27% contained as of September 9 Lightning strikes, 14 structures destroyed;1 structure damaged; 1 injury. Southern segment of the fire perimeter eventually merged into the August Complex, while the western front of the fire absorbed the Hopkins, Vinegar Peak and Willow Basin Fires, all of which are now managed under the Elkhorn Complex. It is the ninth largest fire in California history. [60]
North Complex Plumas, Butte, Yuba 252,163 August 17 23% contained, as of September 10 Lightning strikes, includes the Claremont Fire and the Bear Fire; 3 fatalities; 13 injuries; It is the ninth-largest fire complex in California history. [61]
Jones Nevada 705 August 17 August 28 Lightning sparked, 21 structures destroyed, 3 structures damaged, 7 injuries [62]
Sheep Plumas, Lassen 29,570 August 17 September 9 Lightning-sparked, 26 structures destroyed, 1 injury [63][64]
Salt Calaveras 1,789 August 18 August 24 Lightning-sparked [65]
W-5 Cold Springs Lassen 84,817 August 18 98% contained, as of September 8 Lightning-sparked [66]
Carmel Monterey 6,905 August 18 September 4 Lightning-sparked, 73 structures destroyed; 7 structures damaged [67]
Dolan Monterey 94,034 August 18 26% contained, as of September 9 Cause not officially determined; however, a suspect was charged with arson in connection to the fire[68] [69]
Woodward Marin 4,895 August 19 95% contained, as of September 8 Lightning-sparked, 1,600 structures threatened [70]
SQF Complex Tulare 67,529 August 19 12% contained, as of September 9 Lightning-sparked, contains the Castle Fire (55,523 acres) and the Shotgun Fire (438 acres) [71]
Moc Tuolumne 2,857 August 20 August 30 Lightning-sparked [72]
Slink Mono 22,474 August 29 36% contained, as of September 9 Lightning-sparked [73]
Creek Fresno, Madera 175,893 September 4 0% contained, as of September 9 Unknown cause, 360 structures destroyed; 12 injuries; 1 fatality [74][75][76]
El Dorado San Bernardino 12,474 September 5 18% contained, as of September 9 Sparked by a pyrotechnic device at a gender reveal party [77][78]
Valley San Diego 17,665 September 5 27% contained, as of September 9 Unknown cause, 51 structures destroyed, 11 structures damaged, 2 injuries [79]
Bobcat Los Angeles 19,796 September 6 0% contained, as of September 9 Unknown cause [80]
Oak Mendocino 863 September 7 25% contained, as of September 9 Unknown cause, 2 structures destroyed [81]
Slater Siskiyou 120,000 September 8 0% contained, as of September 9 Unknown cause, 1 structure destroyed [82]
Fork El Dorado 2,500 September 8 0% contained, as of September 9 [83]
Willow Yuba 1,311 September 9 0% contained, as of September 9 [84]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c 2020 National Large Incident Year-to-Date Report (PDF). Geographic Area Coordination Center (Report). National Interagency Fire Center. September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  2. ^ "Fire Statistics". CAL FIRE. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  3. ^ Holly Yan; Cheri Mossberg; Artemis Moshtaghian; Paul Vercammen (September 6, 2020). "California sets new record for land torched by wildfires as 224 people escape by air from a 'hellish' inferno". Cable News Network. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  4. ^ Silverman, Hollie (September 8, 2020). "California wildfires have burned more than 2 million acres and prompted power outages for more than 170,000". CNN. Retrieved September 8, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Mulkern, Anne C. (August 24, 2020). "Fast-Moving California Wildfires Boosted by Climate Change". Scientific American. Retrieved September 9, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Williams, A. Park; Abatzoglou, John T.; Gershunov, Alexander; Guzman‐Morales, Janin; Bishop, Daniel A.; Balch, Jennifer K.; Lettenmaier, Dennis P. (2019). "Observed Impacts of Anthropogenic Climate Change on Wildfire in California". Earth's Future. 7 (8): 892–910. doi:10.1029/2019EF001210. ISSN 2328-4277.
  7. ^ Singh, Maanvi (August 19, 2020). "California wildfires: thousands evacuate as 'siege' of flames overwhelms state". The Guardian. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  8. ^ Leonard, Diana. "Dry California winter prompts wildfire and drought concerns". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  9. ^ Daniels, Jeff. "California Gov. Gavin Newsom declares state of emergency due to increased wildfire risk". CNBC. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  10. ^ Roach, John. "What's expected for the 2020 California wildfire season?". AccuWeather. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  11. ^ "Interstate 5 Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. May 7, 2020.
  12. ^ "Range Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. May 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "Scorpion Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. June 1, 2020.
  14. ^ Moleski, Vincent (June 7, 2020). "Quail fire outside Vacaville surpasses 1,800 acres". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved June 7, 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  15. ^ "Quail Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. June 7, 2020.
  16. ^ @MCIWPendletonCA (June 12, 2020). "Wood Fire Containment Information" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ^ "India Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. June 9, 2020.
  18. ^ "Soda Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. June 11, 2020.
  19. ^ "Soda Fire Now 100% Contained". KEYT.com. June 11, 2020.
  20. ^ "Grant Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. June 11, 2020.
  21. ^ "Walker Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. June 11, 2020.
  22. ^ "Paso Robles River Fire 100% contained; evacuations to be lifted at 3 p.m." KSBY. June 23, 2020.
  23. ^ "Grade Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. June 26, 2020.
  24. ^ "Pass Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. June 28, 2020.
  25. ^ "Bena Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. June 11, 2020.
  26. ^ "Crews Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. July 5, 2020.
  27. ^ "Soledad Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. July 5, 2020.
  28. ^ "Mineral Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. July 14, 2020.
  29. ^ "Mineral Fire 2020 Information". fire.ca.gov. July 13, 2020.
  30. ^ "Coyote Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. July 16, 2020.
  31. ^ "Hog Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. July 5, 2020.
  32. ^ "Gold Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. July 21, 2020.
  33. ^ "July Complex 2020 Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. July 23, 2020.
  34. ^ "Blue Jay Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. September 8, 2020.
  35. ^ "Red Salmon Complex Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov/. August 2, 2020.
  36. ^ "Interactive Map with acreage for both Red and Salmon fires". ucanr.edu. August 3, 2020.
  37. ^ "Apple Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. July 31, 2020.
  38. ^ Staff, KSBY. "UPDATE: Pond Fire 67% contained, 2,005 acres burned". KSBY. Retrieved August 3, 2020. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  39. ^ "Pond Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 2, 2020.
  40. ^ "North Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov/. August 3, 2020.
  41. ^ "Stagecoach Fire now 7,760 acres, 64% contained and 37 structures destroyed". KBAK-TV. August 4, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  42. ^ "Firefighter Dies While Assigned to Stagecoach Fire". KNBC. August 12, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  43. ^ "Stagecoach Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 3, 2020.
  44. ^ "Lake Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov/. August 12, 2020.
  45. ^ "Ranch2 Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov/. August 13, 2020.
  46. ^ "Loyalton Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 16, 2020.
  47. ^ @NWStornado (August 16, 2020). "Loyalton Fire Tornado Warning" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  48. ^ "Hills Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 17, 2020.
  49. ^ "River Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 16, 2020.
  50. ^ "Dome Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 18, 2020.
  51. ^ "Beach Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 18, 2020.
  52. ^ "SCU Lightning Complex Fires Information". fire.ca.gov. August 17, 2020.
  53. ^ "August Complex Fires Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 17, 2020.
  54. ^ "Firefighter killed battling California wildfire, another injured". Fox News. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  55. ^ "CZU Lightning Complex Fires Information". fire.ca.gov. August 25, 2020.
  56. ^ "Rattlesnake Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. September 8, 2020.
  57. ^ "LNU Lightning Complex Fire Fires Information". fire.ca.gov. August 19, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  58. ^ "Holser Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 17, 2020.
  59. ^ "Butte Lightning Complex Fires Information". fire.ca.gov. August 19, 2020.
  60. ^ "Elkhorn Fire". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 17, 2020.
  61. ^ "North Complex Fires Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 19, 2020.
  62. ^ "Jones Fire | Welcome to CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  63. ^ "Sheep Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. September 4, 2020.
  64. ^ "Sheep Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 22, 2020.
  65. ^ "Salt Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 19, 2020.
  66. ^ "W-5 Cold Spring Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 19, 2020.
  67. ^ "Caramel Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 19, 2020.
  68. ^ https://sanluisobispo.com/news/california/fires/article245175675.html
  69. ^ "Dolan Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 19, 2020.
  70. ^ "Woodward Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 22, 2020.
  71. ^ "SQF Complex Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 22, 2020.
  72. ^ "Moc Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 20, 2020.
  73. ^ "Slink Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 30, 2020.
  74. ^ "Creek Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. InciWeb. September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  75. ^ "Creek Fire". fire.ca.gov. CAL FIRE. September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  76. ^ "Creek Fire live updates: 162,833 acres burned; Auberry among firefighters' concerns". The Fresno Bee. September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  77. ^ "El Dorado Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. InciWeb. September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  78. ^ Atagi, Colin; Hayden, Nicole (September 6, 2020). "Fire officials: El Dorado blaze sparked during gender reveal party". The Desert Sun. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  79. ^ "Valley Fire General Information". fire.ca.gov. CAL FIRE. September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  80. ^ "Bobcat Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. InciWeb. September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  81. ^ "Oak Fire". fire.ca.gov. CAL FIRE. September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  82. ^ "Slater Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. InciWeb. September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  83. ^ "Fork Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. InciWeb. September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  84. ^ "Willow Fire". fire.ca.gov. CAL FIRE. September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2020 wildfires in California.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2020_California_wildfires&oldid=977755917"