CALIFORNIA — The lack of resources and the limited air power on the Railroad Fire is frustrating. However, communities across the state are in the same situation as 19 large wildfires, and countless smaller ones, demand response.
Adding to the challenges is the near record-breaking heat, and humidity levels dipping down into the single digits.
In the northern part of the state, a strong high pressure system continues to deliver temperatures as much as 20 degrees above normal, and daytime humidity in the dangerously low range of 5 to 15 percent, with overnight recovery only 20 to 30 percent in many areas. These conditions also lead to poor smoke dispersion and poor air quality in canyons and valleys near and downwind of active fires.
There is better news in the southern region, where high pressure over the Great Basin and low pressure off the California Coast is expected to bring moisture into the area from Tropical Storm Lidia through Monday. However, along with any welcome rain, thunderstorms are forecast to form over the Sierra and Southern California this afternoon. With that comes the threat of more starts due to lightning.
Maximum temperatures will be in the mid-80s to mid-90s across the mountains and upper 90s to 108 in the valleys. Minimum relative humidity will remain in the teens across most of the region today.
Fires of Interest:
**Cal Fire Incidents**
Palmer Fire, Riverside County
Oak Valley Pkwy x Palmer Ave., west of Beaumont
· 3,300 acres grass and brush, 15 % contained
· Evacuation orders and warnings in place
Border Fire, San Diego County
Marron Valley Rd x Border Rd, Marron Valley
· 130 acres grass and brush, 90% contained
Pleasant Fire, Nevada County
Highway 49 x Pleasant Valley Road, 1 mile south of North San Juan
State DPA, SRA, Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit
· 392 acres timber, 80% contained
Ponderosa Fire, Butte County
Ponderosa way x Lumpkin road, 2 miles NW of Forbestown
· 3,998 acres timber, 56% contained
· 46 structures destroyed (32 residences and 14 outbuildings), damage assessment ongoing
**Unified Command**
Helena Fire, Trinity County
Hwy 299 near town of Helena, 5 miles NW of Junction City
Unified Command Cal Fire and USFS
· 7,440 acres brush and timber 6% contained
· 133 structures destroyed (72 residences and 61 outbuildings), 8 structures damaged
· Structure threat and evacuations orders remain in effect
Salmon August Complex Fire, Siskiyou County
Bear Wallow Pk., Marble Mountain Wilderness, 5 miles W of Etna
Unified Command Cal Fire and USFS
· 48,889 acres timber, 15% contained
Pier Fire, Tulare County
Highway 190 at Wishon, 7 miles east of Springville
Unified command Cal Fire, USFS, and Tulare County Fire
· 17,418 acres brush and timber, 0% contained
· Continued structure threat
· Mandatory evacuation orders remain in place
**Local Incidents**
La Tuna Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
Lowell Av x I-210, Verdugo Hills, Los Angeles City
Unified Command Burbank and LA City, Glendale
· 5,895 acres grass and brush, 10% contained
· Continued structure threat – numerous evacuations remain in place
**Federal Incidents**
Caldwell Fire, Kern County
US Forest Service – Sequoia National Forest
· 878 acres grass and brush, 20% contained
Railroad Fire, Madera County
US Forest Service – Sierra National Forest
· 5,800 acres, 15% contained
Slinkard Fire, Mono County
Antelope Fire Protection District/Owens Valley District BLM
· 9,051 acres grass and brush, 35% contained
· Structures threatened
South Fork Fire, Mariposa County
Yosemite National Park
· 7,200 acres, 47% contained
Young Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…)
US Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest
· 2,500 acres
Eclipse Complex (CA-KNF-6098), Siskiyou County
US Forest Service – Klamath National Forest
· 80,503 acres, 25% contained.
Warner Mountain Lightning, Modoc County
US Forest Service – Modoc National Forest
· 210 acres
Empire Fire, Mariposa County
Yosemite National Park
· 4,700 acres, 55% contained
Orleans Complex, Siskiyou County
US Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest
· 17,330 acres, 51% contained
Clear Fire, Siskiyou County
US Forest Service – Klamath National Forest
· 6,701 acres, 77% contained
Whittier Fire, Santa Barbara County
US Forest Service – Los Padres National Forest
· 18,430 acres, 87% contained
Did you know that embers from a wildfire can travel up to a mile away from the main fire and ignite a new fire?
Visit ReadyForWildfire.org to learn more about being prepared for wildfires.
Get ready for wildfire with the new Cal Fire app available on Android and IPhone. For current fire information, visit www.fire.ca.gov.
