CALIFORNIA – Over 14,000 firefighters continue to battle more than two dozen major fires and lightning complexes across California. Weather conditions overnight were more favorable for the firefighters. Unfortunately with the better weather conditions there were nearly 300 lightning strikes across California. Firefighters continue to monitor for additional lightning strike wildfires and the potential for additional lightning today.
Since the lightning siege that started on Saturday, August 15, 2020, there have been over 13,000 lightning strikes. During this time-period, there have been more than 625 new wildfires, which have now burned over 1.2 million acres. In this siege, there have been 7 reported fatalities and more than 1,200 structures destroyed.
Compared to 2019, California has experienced a significant increase in the number of wildfires and acres burned. An astonishing 2,700 more wildfires have occurred this year than last, with an additional 1.4 million acres burned during the same time-period.
A Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service is still in effect for the threat of lightning with little precipitation and gusty erratic outflow winds until 5pm in most of northern California. The threat of dry thunderstorms will decrease in the central valley this morning, but remain possible in portions of the foothills and mountains through the evening. Poor air quality continues for much of the state due to ongoing wildfires.
Dry weather expected Tuesday into Friday with high temperatures slightly above normal for northern California and significant cool down is likely this week with an onshore flow and deep marine layer in southern California.
With extreme fire danger expected this weekend, it is critical that all Californians take steps to prevent sparking a wildfire. To learn more ways to prevent sparking a wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
Fires of Interest:
LNU Lighting Complex Fire, Napa County (more info…)
Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Solano, and Yolo Counties
State DPA, SRA, Napa County
*350,030 acres, 22% contained
*Hennessey (merged fires) 293,602 acres, 26% contained
*Wallbridge 54,068 acres, 5% contained
*Meyers 2,360 acres, 95% contained
*Estimated 871 structures destroyed
*Evacuations in place
SCU Lightning Complex Fire, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties (more info…)
Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties
*347,196 acres, 10% contained
*20 fires in the complex
*Canyon/Reservoir (merged) 344,092
*Deer 3,104 acres
*Evacuations and road closures in place
*12 structures destroyed
CZU August Lightning Fire, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties (more info…)
San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties
*78,000 acres, 13% contained
*Warnell Fire has now merged into CZU Lightning
*Evacuations in place
*231 structures destroyed
BTU/TGU Lightning Complex Fire, Butte and Glenn Counties (more info…)
*53,047 acres, 23% contained
*Elkhorn 33,720 acres
*Ivory/Doe 13,000 acres
*Potters (5-4) 927 acres
River Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
East of Salinas
*48,424 acres, 23% contained
*8 structures destroyed
*Evacuations in place
Carmel Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
South of Carmel
*6,695 acres, 15% contained
*33 structures destroyed
*Evacuations in place
Moc Fire, Tuolumne County (more info…)
Moccasin
• 2,800 acres, 20% contained
• Continued structure threat
• Evacuations in place
Salt Fire, Calaveras County (more info…)
Northeast of Copperopolis
*1,789 acres, 95% contained
Hills Fire, Fresno County (more info…)
South of Coalinga
*2,121 acres 98% contained
Jones Fire, Nevada County (more info…)
Northwest of Nevada City
*705 acres, 65% contained
*Evacuations in place
*21 residential structures destroyed
**Unified Command Fires**
Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
Southwest of Lake Hughes
* 31,089 acres, 62% contained
*Continued structure threat
Sheep Fire, Plumas County (more info…)
Southwest of Susanville
* 25,574 acres 0% contained
August Complex, Tehama County (more info…)
Grindstone Canyon, Elk Creek
*177,750 acres 11% contained
Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
Ventana Wilderness – Los Padres National Forest
* 20,091 acres, 10% contained
Ranch 2 Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
San Gabriel Canyon
*4,237 acres, 81% contained
*Road closures in place
Apple Fire, Riverside County (more info…)
Cherry Valley
*33,424 acres, 95% contained
North Complex Fire, Plumas County (more info…)
Southwest of Susanville – Plumas National Forest
*41,880 acres, 5% contained
*Evacuations in place
*Includes the Claremont Fire
Loyalton, Vegetation Fire, Sierra County (more info…)
East of Loyalton – Tahoe National Forest
47,029 acres, 93% contained
Red Salmon Complex – Shasta-Trinity National Forest (more info…)
Northeast of Willow Creek, CA
*19,365 acres, 41% contained
Castle Fire, Tulare County (more info…)
East of Giant Sequoia National Monument
*5,000 acres, 0% contained
W-5 Cold Springs, Lassen County (more info…)
East of Madeline.
*52,000 acres, 6% containment
Dome, San Bernardino County (more info…)
Mojave National Preserve
*43,273 acres, 95% contained
Beach, Inyo County (more info…)
Inyo National Forest
*3,780 acres, 90% contained
Blue Jay/Wolf Fire, Mariposa County (more info…)
Yosemite National Forest
*444 acres, 10% contained
Hull Fire, Glenn County (more info…)
North of Lake Pillsbury
*3,000 acres
Woodward Fire, Marin County (more info…)
Point Reyes National Seashore
*2,487 acres 5% contained
Shotgun Fire, Tulare County (more info…)
Golden Trout Wilderness
*200 acres
