CA Fires Latest: Thousands Return Home; One Firefighter Dead

CALIFORNIA — A firefighter died Monday battling the August Complex, bringing the number of fatalities during the state's fire siege to eight. In addition, a second firefighter was injured in the complex, Cal Fire announced Monday.

The U.S. Forest Service has yet to release information on the incident.

Despite temperatures rising again in California, firefighters continued to make a significant dent in the raging firestorms that overwhelmed crews weeks ago. First responders were reaching cleanup mode, sending tens of thousands back to their homes Tuesday.

The two largest fires, the LNU and SCU Lightning Complex Fires, were more than halfway contained Tuesday.

As crews gained some control over the largest fires, many evacuation orders were lifted over the weekend and Monday. Crews were working to get 27,000 back into their homes Tuesday, a significant drop from 40,000 over the weekend.

A heat advisory was in effect Tuesday for the northern counties, while an excessive heat warning was in place for coastal and inland parts of Southern California.

California lawmakers also worked over the weekend to consider a last-minute bill, AB 1659, that could have raised $3 billion for wildfires and climate change projects by imposing a fee on some utility customers. The bill faced opposition from both parties and ultimately did not pass.

Another bill, AB 2147, did pass, which will allow formerly incarcerated people who committed nonviolent crimes an opportunity to expunge their records to pursue a career in firefighting.

About 16,000 firefighters were active Tuesday, battling 19 major fires across the state, Cal Fire said. Since a wave of thunderstorms brought 14,000 lightning strikes that started Aug. 15, more than 900 wildfires have cropped up around the Golden State, which collectively burned 1.48 million acres and destroyed around 2,800 structures.

Favorable weather conditions helped fire crews hold containment and controlled burn lines at lower elevations. But fires burning above 2,000 feet are still burning in dry air.

SEE ALSO: California Wildfires 2020: 5 Essential Things To Know

Warmer weather is expected to persist toward the end of the week and through the weekend; and although the lightning strikes that ravaged the state last week have dissipated, they could make a resurgence this week in the upper portion of Northern California and the Sierra Nevada Mountain range.

Damage inspection teams worked to assess the devastation in Northern California throughout the weekend.

SEE ALSO: Israeli Firefighters Arrive To Battle CA Wildfires

According to Cal Fire, 95 percent of wildfires are sparked by human activity. The agency encourages Californians to educate themselves on preventing wildfires. More information can be found here.

Here are a few of the major stats:

• 14,000+: The number of lightning strikes recorded since Aug. 15.
• 900+: The number of wildfires sparked in the same time period.
• 1.48 million: How many acres have burned in this firestorm.
• 8: The number of lives lost.
• 2,800+: The number of structures destroyed.

#LNULightningComplex - EVACUATION UPDATE – Napa County pic.twitter.com/KmBq7pHuva
— CAL FIRE LNU (@CALFIRELNU) August 31, 2020

SEE ALSO: 17 New Photos Show Impact Of California Wildfires

Here are some of the major fires that were burning in California as of Tuesday, according to Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service:

LNU Lightning Complex Fire (more info…)
Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Solano, and Yolo Counties
State DPA, SRA, Napa County
*375,209 acres, 69% contained
*Hennessey (merged fires) 317,909 acres, 68% contained
*Wallbridge 54,940 acres, 73% contained
*Meyers 2,360 acres, 99% contained
*1,198 structures destroyed
*Evacuations in place
*CAL FIRE IMT-2 in command

READ MORE: Hennessey Fire 62-Percent Contained In Napa, Lake Counties

READ MORE: Sonoma County Walbridge Fire 64-Percent Contained

SCU Lightning Complex Fire (more info…)
Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties
*390,157 acres, 70% contained
*20 fires in the complex, several have merged together
*Canyon/Reservoir (merged) 380,053 acres 65% contained
*Deer 3,104 acres 100% contained
*Evacuations and road closures in place
*53 structures destroyed
* CAL FIRE IMT-6 in command

READ MORE: SCU Fires: Evacuations Lifted In Santa Clara, Alameda Counties

READ MORE: Bay Area Rallies Behind SCU Firefighters

CZU August Lightning Fire (more info…)
San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties
*86,218 acres, 43% contained
*Warnell Fire has now merged into CZU Lightning
*Evacuations in place
*1,361 structures destroyed
*CAL FIRE IMT-3 is in command

READ MORE: CZU Fires: National Guard Deployed To Aid Firefighters

SEE ALSO: 17 New Photos Show Impact Of California Wildfires

BTU/TGU Lightning Complex Fire (more info…)
Butte, Tehama and Glenn Counties
*60,104 acres, 42% contained
*Elkhorn 39,620 acres, 40% contained
*Ivory/Doe 16,100 acres, 90% contained
*Potters (5-4) 927 acres, 97% contained
*CAL FIRE IMT-4 in command

River Fire (more info…)
Monterey County, East of Salinas
*48,088 acres, 96% contained
*30 structures destroyed
*Repopulation is complete
*CAL FIRE IMT-1 in command

SEE ALSO: California Man Extinguishes Fire With Bud Light

Carmel Fire (more info…)
Monterey County, South of Carmel
*6,905 acres, 98% contained
*73 structures destroyed
*Repopulation is complete
*CAL FIRE IMT 1 Team in command

Moc Fire, Tuolumne County (more…)
Moccasin
*2,800 acres, 98% contained

The latest numbers on the Aug. Lightning Siege. More information at https://t.co/cJ4J6rn4AXhttps://t.co/6s2QmGvwFi pic.twitter.com/MwRamVwXM1
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) August 27, 2020

UNIFIED COMMAND FIRES

Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
Southwest of Lake Hughes
* 31,089 acres, 90% contained
*Continued structure threat
*Unified Command USFS and Los Angeles County Fire
*CA IMT Team 5 is in command

FEDERAL INCIDENTS

August Complex, Tehama County (more…)
Grindstone Canyon, Elk Creek
*221,284 acres 18% contained
*Includes the Hull Fire and Doe Fire

Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
Ventana Wilderness – Los Padres National Forest
* 27,936 acres acres, 25% contained

Ranch 2 Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
San Gabriel Canyon
*4,237 acres, 96% contained
*Road closures in place
*Federal Type 2 in command

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
* 61,095 acres, 37% contained
*Evacuations in place
*Includes the Sheep and Claremont Fire
*CA IMT Team 1 is in command

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
*23,221 acres, 42% contained

SQF Complex, Tulare County (more…)
East of Giant Sequoia National Monument/ Golden Trout Wilderness
*35,674 acres, 0% contained
*Castle and Shotgun Fires merged into this complex

W-5 Cold Springs, Lassen County (more…)
East of Madeline.
*80,483 acres, 54% containment

Dome, San Bernardino County (more…)
Mojave National Preserve
*43,273 acres, 95% contained

Beach, Inyo County (more…)
Inyo National Forest
*3,780 acres, 100% contained

Blue Jay/Wolf Fire, Mariposa County (more…)
Yosemite National Forest
*774 acres, 15% contained

Woodward Fire, Marin County (more…)
Point Reyes National Seashore
* 4,465 acres 25% contained

READ MORE: Woodward Fire: 4,465 acres burned; 25% Contained

Trimmer Fire, Fresno County
Sierra National Forest
*1,367 acres, 100% contained