Nearly 12,000 firefighters are battling nearly two dozen major fires and complexes across California. Overnight firefighters continued to make progress despite extreme weather conditions.
Since the lightning siege started on Sunday, August 16, there have been nearly 12,000 lightning strikes. During this time-period, there have been more than 560 new wildfires, most of which have been contained due to aggressive firefighting. Those fires have burned over 771,00 acres in total.
As we move into the weekend, fire danger remains elevated with a few holdover lightning ignitions still possible. A warming trend is likely. Gusty winds are expected in the Eastern Sierra today, elevating the fire danger. Fire officials are monitoring the weather closely as lightning is expected to return Sunday night through Tuesday across Northern California.
Since January 1, 2020, CAL FIRE has responded to over 5,600 wildfires.
The recent spike in wildfire activity is an important reminder for residents to take steps to prevent sparking a wildfire. Having an evacuation plan, a supply kit, and important paperwork will make it easier when it is time to GO. Remember one less spark, means One Less Wildfire.
Learn more at www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
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Fires of Interest
- *CAL FIRE Incidents**
Salt Fire, Calaveras County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/salt-fire)
Northeast of Copperopolis
- 1,789 acres, 75% contained
Carmel Fire, Monterey County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/carmel-fire)
South of Carmel
- 4232 acres, 0% contained
- Evacuations in place
- CAL FIRE IMT 1 Team in command
Hills Fire, Fresno County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/15/hills-fire/)
South of Coalinga
- 1,900 acres 45% contained
River Fire, Monterey County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/16/river-fire/)
East of Salinas
- 39, 464 acres, 9% contained
- Approximately 3,000 structures threatened
- Approximately 9,000 people have been evacuated
- CAL FIRE IMT Team 1 in command
3-4 Fire, Tehama County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/19/3-4-fire/)
Southwest of Red Bank
- 7,000 acres, 0% contained
Creek Fire, Mendocino County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/creek-fire/)
Northeast of Covelo
- 820 acres, 90% contained
- Two structures destroyed
3-19 Fire, Mendocino County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/3-19-fire/) FINAL
Southeast of Potter Valley
- 62 acres, 100% contained
- One structure destroyed
BTU/TGU Lightning Complex Fire, Butte and Glenn Counties
Butte, Tehama and Glenn Counties
- 30,042 acres, 10% contained
- Elkhorn 18,000 acres, 0%
- Ivory 4,500 acres, 0%
- 5-4 Potters 1012 acres, 70%
- 2-24 330 acres, 70%
- 5-5 200 acres, 50%
- 1-8 150 acres, 50%
- 1-7 100 acres, 30%
- CAL FIRE IMT- 4 in command
LNU Lightning Complex Fire, Napa County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/17/lnu-lightning-complex-includes-hennessey-gamble-15-10-spanish-markley-13-4-11-16/)
Napa County
State DPA, SRA, Napa County
- 219,067 acres, 7% contained
- Hennessey (merged fires) 105,000 acres, 0% contained
- Wallbridge 14,500 acres, 0% contained
- Meyers 3,000 acres, 0% contained
- Round 4,000 acres, 0% contained
- Aetna 4,500 acres, 0% contained
- Estimated 480 structures destroyed
- Evacuations in place
- CAL FIRE IMT-2 in command
Jones Fire, Nevada County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/17/jones-fire/)
Northwest of Nevada City
- 705 acres, 25% contained
- Evacuation in place
- 5 residential structures destroyed
CZU August Lightning Fire, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/17/czu-lightning-complex/)
San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties
- 50,000 acres, 0% contained
- Waddell fire, 600 acres 0% contained
- Evacuations in place
- 20 residential structures destroyed
- CAL FIRE IMT #3 is in command
SCU Lightning Complex Fire, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/scu-lightning-complex/)
Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties
- 229,968 acres, 10% contained
- 20 fires in the complex
- Marsh 3,000 acres, 99% contained
- Canyon 174,866 acres, 0% contained
- Reservoir 51,619 acres, 10% contained
- Deer 3,294 acres, 70% contained
- Arroyo 190 acres, 90% contained
- Evacuations and road closures in place
- CA IMT-6 in command
- *Unified Command Fires**
Warnella Fire, Santa Cruz County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/)
East of Davenport
- 290 acres, 5% contained
- Unified Command CAL FIRE and BLM – Central California District
Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/12/lake-fire/)
Southwest of Lake Hughes
- 28,912 acres, 52% contained
- Continued structure threat
- Road closures in the area
- Unified Command USFS and Los Angeles County Fire
- CA IMT Team 5 is in command
- *Federal Incidents**
Dolan Fire, Monterey County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/19/dolan-fire/)
Ventana Wilderness — Los Padres National Forest
- 8,500 acres, 0% contained
Ranch 2 Fire, Los Angeles County
San Gabriel Canyon
- 4,237 acres, 39% contained
- Road closures in place
- Federal Type 2, in command
Apple Fire, Riverside County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/7/31/apple-fire/)
Cherry Valley
- 33,424 acres, 95% contained
North Complex Fire, Plumas County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/north-complex-fire/)
Southwest of Susanville — Plumas National Forest
- 16,244 acres, 5% contained
- Evacuations in place
- Road and trail closures in effect
- CA IMT Team 1 is in command
Loyalton, Vegetation Fire, Sierra County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/14/loyalton-fire/)
East of Loyalton – Tahoe National Forest
- 46,872 acres, 60% contained
Red Salmon Complex — Shasta-Trinity National Forest (nciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6891/)
Northeast of Willow Creek, CA
- 16,485 acres, 39% contained
- *Local Government**
Holser, Vegetation Fire, Ventura County/Los Angeles County (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/17/holser-fire/)
South of Lake Piru
- 3,000 acres, 80% contained
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