SACRAMENTO – California has experienced an unprecedented lightening siege that has resulted in approximately 11,000 lightning strikes up and down the state resulting in more than 370 new fires. There are approximately 10,000 firefighters who are aggressively fighting these fires currently and Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a statewide emergency, calling for additional equipment and personal to fight the fires from ground and air.
The fires in California have come during a record-breaking heatwave, that left temperatures climbing well past 100 degrees almost every day this week. Weather is a crucial factor in being able to fight the fires; looking forward at the upcoming weather conditions, strong winds, high heat, and low humidity will make it difficult for those on the front lines.
Map courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management
According to Jeremy Rahn, division chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, (Cal Fire) there are more than 10,849 lighting strikes that have contributed to more than 367 fires since Monday. Two of the state’s largest fires are in Northern California.
Since January 1st of this year, CAL FIRE has answered to approximately 5,500 wildfires.
Counties with Fires of Interest are:
- Calaveras
- Monterey
- Fresno
- Glenn
- Tehama
- Mendocino
- Butte
- Napa
- Nevada
- Contra Costa
- Alameda
- Santa Clara
- Stanislaus
- Santa Cruz
- Los Angeles
- Riverside
- Plumas
- Sierra
- Shasta-Trinity
- Ventura
It is recommended that residence take extra precaution in order to prevent fires as well as having an evacuation plan, emergency kit, important documents handy in case a situation arises. 
