CALIFORNIA — Cooling temperatures this week could help firefighters continue to make progress on 13 large wildfires burning in the State, while the number of fatalities due to fire has increased by one since our last report.
The death toll rose to 42 yesterday, after authorities located another victim of the Tubbs Fire in Sonoma County. Meanwhile, the identity of a firefighter killed earlier this week has been released. Garrett Paiz, 38, suffered fatal injuries when the water tender he was driving crashed on the Oakville Grade, near the Nuns Fire. Paiz, of Missouri, was a contractor with Tehama Transport.
Nearly 10,000 firefighters are taking care of business on blazes that have burned over 210,000 acres, combined. There are currently some 20 engines from the Cal Fire Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit assigned to fires in other units. Cooler temperatures and increased humidity overnight have aided firefighters in their efforts.
Weather conditions this week will continue to help in the containment progress; light rain is forecast for Thursday night in Northern California.
While many evacuation orders have been lifted in Northern California, over 22,000 people still remain out of their homes due to the fires.Residents returning home are urged to be cautious as hazardous conditions may remain. Learn more tips on how to return home after a wildfire at www.fire.ca.gov.
Fires of Interest:
**CAL FIRE Incidents**
CENTRAL LNU COMPLEX (3 fires)
In unified command with Santa Rosa Fire Department & Sonoma County Sheriff
CAL FIRE Incident Management Team assigned
23 civilian fatalities & 1 private water tender operator
Tubbs Fire
Sonoma and Napa Counties
Between Calistoga and Santa Rosa
36,432 acres, 91% contained
Significant number of structures destroyed
Pocket Fire
Sonoma County
North of Geyserville
12,430 acres, 63% contained
Nuns Fire
Sonoma County
East of Hwy 12 from east Santa Rosa to east of Sonoma
54,423 acres, 80% contained
The Oakmont Fire burned into the Nuns Fire overnight.
SOUTHERN LNU COMPLEX (1 fire)
CAL FIRE Incident Management Team assigned
Atlas Fire, Napa & Solano Counties (more info…)
South of Lake Berryessa and northeast of Napa
51,064 acres, 83% contained
6 civilian fatalities
Significant structures destroyed
MENDOCINO-LAKE COMPLEX (2 fires)
CAL FIRE Incident Management Team assigned
Redwood Valley, Mendocino County
North of Hwy 20 in Potter Valley and Redwood Valley
35,800 acres, 75% contained
8 civilian fatalities
Significant structures destroyed
Sulphur Fire, Lake County
Clearlake Oaks
2,207 acres, 92% contained
WIND COMPLEX (3 fires)
CAL FIRE Incident Management Team assigned
Cascade Fire, Yuba County (more info…)
Loma Rica area
9,989 acres, 98% contained
4 civilian fatalities
Significant structure destroyed
Lobo Fire
Nevada County
Rough and Ready area
821 acres, 99% contained
Multiple structures destroyed
LaPorte Fire
Butte County
Bangor area
6,151 acres, 98% contained
OTHER FIRES
Fallon Fire
Alameda County NEW
Fallon Road, 3 miles east of Dublin
116 acres, 70% contained
**Unified Command Incidents**
Bear Fire
Santa Cruz County NEW
Bear Creek Canyon Road, northeast of Boulder Creek
270 acres, 10% contained
**Federal Incidents**
Wilson Fire
Los Angeles County NEW
Mount Wilson, Mount Wilson Observatory
30 acres, 25% contained
Buffalo Fire
San Diego County NEW
Camp Pendleton
1,088 acres, 50% contained
Photo from Cal Fire by Instagram user @heresjohnny831