California Wildfire Latest: 9 Large Fires, 2 Deaths, Hundreds of Homes Destroyed

SEE LATEST STATS HERE: California Wildfire Update: Tuesday, June 28

More than 5,200 firefighters are working Monday to battle nine large blazes across the Golden State as fire season rages on. And as we move into another warm week, Cal Fire is warning of increased fire risk.

"Yesterday’s high temperatures combined with the low humidity led to an increase in wildfire conditions," Cal Fire Spokesman Daniel Berlant said Monday morning. "Several large wildfires broke out burning hundreds of acres."

Berlant said that since temperatures are forecast to be anywhere from five to 15 degrees above normal and humidity is expected to drop, a dangerous combination will increase the fire risk statewide.

"There is a chance for isolated lightning in the mountains of San Bernardino down to San Diego," he added.

The Fires

The largest fire of all right now is the deadly Erskine Fire in Kern County, near Lake Isabella. As of Monday morning, an estimated 45,388 acres had burned and 200 homes had been destroyed. Dozens more are in jeopardy. Two fatalities related to the fire are confirmed. Containment is estimated at 40 percent.

Over the weekend, a fire popped up about 2.5 miles northeast of Laguna Beach, in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. An estimated 50 acres has burned there so far, and it's considered 60 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.

The San Gabriel Complex Fire in Los Angeles County fire broke out June 20 and spread to an estimated 5,399 acres as of Monday. Some 859 firefighters were battling the blaze Monday, down from 923 Sunday, and firefighters have been transported by helicopter to remote sites to continue fire suppression in areas difficult to access. Containment is estimated at 72 percent.

The Border Fire in San Diego is nearing full containment, with Cal Fire estimating it was 90 percent contained as of Monday morning. Some 7,609 acres have burned there – along with five homes and 11 outbuildings, according to Cal Fire.

Santa Barbara County's Sherpa Fire continues to burn, but containment is now estimated at 93 percent, Cal Fire says. That fire, located west of Goleta, has burned 7,474 acres and first broke out on June 15.

Here is a brief wrap of the other incidents Cal Fire is tracking:

• Reservoir Fire, Lake County
  Northeast of Clearlake Oaks
  350 acres brush, oak woodland, 0 percent contained
• Creek Fire, Yolo County
  Hwy 16, 4 miles south of Brooks, near the Cache Creek Casino
  277 acres, 100 percent contained
• Dinosaur Fire, Merced County
  Hwy 152 X Dinosaur Point, West side of San Luis Reservoir
  1,246 acres, 100 percent contained
• Marina Fire, Mono County (more info…)
  Near Lee Vining US Forest Service - Inyo National Forest
  654 acres, 46 percent contained
  CAL FIRE air and ground resources assisting
  
• (Federal Incident) Pony Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…)
  15 miles southwest of Happy Camp US Forest Service - Klamath National Forest
  2,858 acres, 63 percent contained

Celebrating July 4 Safely

Cal Fire said that as we get closer to celebrating the July 4 holiday, to remain vigilant of the use of any fireworks.

"This week marks the beginning of safe and sane fireworks being sold in approximately 300 communities in California," Berlant said. "It's critical that if you choose to buy safe and sane fireworks in one of these communities that you exercise extreme caution. Only use those fireworks with the State Fire Marshal Seal of Approval. California has a zero tolerance towards the use and sale of illegal fireworks."

A full fireworks safety guide can be found here: ReadyForWildfire.org

SEE ALSO:

• Firefighters Gearing Up For Possibly One Of 'Worst Fire Seasons Ever'