CALIFORNIA – Sept. 18, 2020 – We are saddened to report that yesterday a firefighter lost their life on the El Dorado Fire, bringing the total number of fatalities to 26.
Over 18,500 firefighters remain on the frontlines of 27 major and one extended attack wildfires in California. Milder weather is helping the fire fight as crews continue to gain ground on many of the major incidents. Yesterday, firefighters responded to 28 initial attack wildfires across the State.
Since the beginning of the year, there have been over 7,900 wildfires that have burned over 3.4 million acres in California. Since August 15, when California’s fire activity elevated, there have been over 5,500 structures destroyed.
A Red Flag Warning remains in effect over the eastern Sierra from Modoc County in the north down to Mono County in the south for gusty winds and low humidity, bringing critical fire weather conditions to the area. Conditions continue to be warm and dry in much of southern California today, while a low-pressure system sustains cooler temperatures and increasing humidity through the north state. This weekend, however, warm and dry conditions will return to northern California while low pressure moves into the southern part of the state bringing some cooling and humidity recovery.
The after effects of a wildfire on watershed can be drastic, causing immediate issues and long term effects. The risk of erosion and runoff can increase in fire damaged areas, threatening lives, property and resources. To learn more about these impacts and what CAL FIRE does to help mitigate them, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
Fires of Interest:
**CALFIRE Incidents**
LNU Lightning Complex, multiple North Bay counties (more info…)
Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Colusa, Solano, and Yolo Counties
*363,220 acres, 98% contained
*While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing.
SCU Lightning Complex, multiple Easy Bay counties (more info…)
Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara San Joaquin, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties
*396,624 acres, 98% contained
*While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing.
CZU Lightning Complex, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties (more info…)
*86,509 acres, 97% contained
*Multiple fires
*1,490 structures destroyed
*1 fatality
**Unified Command Incidents**
Snow Fire, Riverside County (more info…) NEW
Snow Creek Rd, west of Palm Springs
*2,500 acres, 0% contained
*Mandatory evacuations in progress
*Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS
North Complex, Plumas County (more info…)
Southwest of Susanville (Plumas National Forest)
*287,141 acres, 41% contained
*15 fatalities
*865 Structures destroyed
*Evacuations in place
*Includes the Bear and Claremont Fire
*CAL FIRE Team 4 is in unified command with US Forest Service IMT Team 4
Creek Fire, Fresno County (more info…)
Northeast of Shaver Lake (Sierra National Forest)
*248,256 acres, 20% contained
*Evacuations in effect
*Heavy tree mortality in the area
*650 structures destroyed
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 in unified command with USFS Great Basin Team 1
El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…)
West of Oak Glen (San Bernardino National Forest)
*21,678 acres, 66% contained
*Evacuations in place
*1 fatality
*California Interagency Incident Management Team 11 in unified command with CAL FIRE, Yucaipa Fire Department and San Bernardino County Fire Department
Butte/Tehama/Glenn (BTU/TGU) Lightning Complex, multiple Counties (more info…)
Butte, Tehama, and Glenn Counties
*19,609 acres, 97% contained
*16 structures destroyed
*While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing.
SQF Complex, Tulare County (more info…)
25 miles north of Kernville (Sequoia National Forest)
*128,902 acres, 12% contained
*Castle and Shotgun Fires merged into this complex
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6 in unified command with USFS Team 2
Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
Hwy 1, 10 miles south of Big Sur (Los Padres National Forest)
*127,724 acres, 45% contained
*Structures threatened
*CAL FIRE is in unified command with Type 1 NW Team 2 (Allen)
**Coordinated Command Incidents**
August Complex, Tehama County (more info…)
Elk Creek and Stonyford area (Mendocino National Forest)
*824,118 acres 30% contained
*South Zone 485,465 acres, 30% contained
*North Zone 252,364 acres, 20% contained
*West Zone 86,289 acres, 7% contained
*Decreased acreage due to mapping by USFS
*1 fatality
*Includes multiple fires including the Elkhorn, Hopkins, Willow, Vinegar, and Doe fires
*A California Interagency Incident Management Team and Great Basin Team in command
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 3 & 5 are deployed on the West Zone of the complex.
**Federal Incidents**
Fox Fire Siskiyou County (more info…)
*1,850 acres, 0% contained
*Evacuations in place
Slater Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…)
5 miles North of Happy Camp (Klamath National Forest)
*146,698 acres, 13% contained
*2 fatalities
*Evacuation orders in place
Devil Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…)
5 miles north of Upper Devil’s Peak (Klamath National Forest)
*6,907 acres, 0% contained
Bobcat Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
North of Duarte (Angeles National Forest)
*60,557 acres, 15% containment
*Evacuations in progress
Bullfrog Fire, Fresno County (more info…)
SE of Bullfrog Lake (Sierra National Forest)
*900 acres, 0% contained
Fork Fire, El Dorado County, (more info…)
15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines (El Dorado National Forest)
*1,752 acres, 53% contained
*Evacuation orders remain in place
Valley Fire, San Diego County (more info…)
Near Alpine (Cleveland National Forest)
*17,093 acres, 91% contained
*CAIIMT 15 in command
Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
Southwest of Lake Hughes
Angeles National Forest / Los Angeles County Fire Department
* 31,089 acres, 96% contained
Apple Fire, Riverside County (more info…)
Oak Glen/Cherry Valley (San Bernardino National Forest)
*33,424 acres, 95% contained
Red Salmon Complex – Humboldt County (more info…)
14 miles northeast of Willow Creek (Shasta-Trinity National Forest)
*99,310 acres, 17% contained
Blue Jay Fire, Mariposa County (more info…)
Yosemite National Park Wilderness
*4,061 acres, 40% contained
Wolf Fire, Tuolumne County (more info…)
Yosemite National Park Wilderness
*900 acres, 25% contained
Woodward Fire, Marin County (more info…)
3 miles southwest of Olema (Point Reyes National Seashore)
*4,929 acres, 97% contained
Slink Fire, Mono County (more info…)
2 miles west of Coleville (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest)
*26,752 acres, 71% contained
Moraine, Tulare County (more info…)
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness
*575 acres, 70% contained
Rattlesnake, Tulare County (more info…)
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness
*1,596 acres, 0% contained
**Extended Attack Wildfires**
(These are wildfires that go beyond the initial attack, but are not major incidents.)
Shackleford Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…)
Southwest of Quartz Valley Reservation
*50 acres, 80% contained
Schoolhouse, Siskiyou County (more info…) FINAL
Schoolhouse Gap Road, north of Fort Jones
*45 acres, 100% contained
San Antonio, Santa Barbara County (more info…) FINAL
Vandenberg Air Force Base
*111 acres, 100% contained
Top 20 Wildfire Records
- 5 of the Top 20 largest wildfires in California History have occurred in 2020.
- Largest Wildfires – #1 August Complex, #3 SCU Lightning Complex, #4 LNU Lightning Complex, #6 North Complex, and #10 Creek Fire.
- Most Destructive – #9 LNU Lightning Complex, #10 CZU Lightning Complex, #12 North Complex, and #18 Creek Fire.
- Deadliest Wildfires – #5 North Complex and #20 LNU Lightning Complex
