CA Fires: 2M Acres Burn In 2020; Heat Wave Challenges Crews

CALIFORNIA — First responders faced down 49 new wildfires Sunday in triple digit heat and contained all of them. But the uphill battle to contain 24 major fires and a cluster of new fires waged on, Labor Day Monday.

Cal Fire announced that 2 million acres have burned in California since the start of the year, outpacing 2019 by a landslide. Since early August, 1.7 million acres have burned, there have been 8 fatalities and more than 3,300 structures destroyed in the historic fire season.

As Red Flag Warnings remained in effect for much of the Golden State Monday, more than 14,100 fire fighters were on the front lines battling new weather driven fires, which forced thousands to flee from their homes over the weekend.

Crews had a handle on the most devastating fires from August's lightning storm Monday, containing the LNU and SCU complex fires more than 90 percent and suppressing the CZU to 76 percent.

As crews made progress on the lightning complex fires, officials pivoted to focus on the four new major fires that rapidly torched areas in Southern California since the onset of a record breaking heat wave.

The El Dorado Fire, burning in San Bernardino County, was found Sunday night to have been ignited by a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device that was used during a gender reveal party. The blaze has burned over 7,000 acres with 5 percent containment.

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an emergency proclamation Sunday for Fresno, Madera and Mariposa counties due to the massive Creek Fire; for San Bernardino County where the El Dorado Fire was burning; and for San Diego County, where military efforts were deployed to fight the Valley Fire.

A new wildfire, the Bobcat Fire, which ignited in the Angeles National Forest in LA County Sunday afternoon, also became a major concern for first responders.

Although temperatures were expected to cool slightly Monday, most of the state was still under a Red Flag Warning for strong, gusty winds and low humidity.

"Northern California, including the Bay Area, and the southern mountains of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties as well as the Eastern Sierra and Mojave Desert are expecting critical fire weather this evening," Cal Fire said Monday. "The Inland Empire down into San Diego are under a fire weather watch for critical fire weather expected Tuesday into Wednesday."

Tens of thousands of Californians experienced power outages through the holiday weekend, and more notably, left without air conditioning amid a sweltering heat wave that brought temperatures upwards of 120 degrees to places like Los Angeles for the first time in modern history.

The state's Independent System Operator pleaded with Californians to conserve energy over the weekend as the state experienced an extreme strain on the power grid as a result of fires threatening downed power lines and facilities, as well as faulty infrastructure and heat-related overuse.

As crews worked to gain control over the new fires burning, additional first responders amassed over the weekend to evacuate residents and battle towering walls of flame reported in Southern California.

"Cal Fire increased staffing in preparation for critical fire weather in multiple areas of the State, which aided in the initial attack of 38 new wildfires," Cal Fire said in a news release Sunday.

With high heat and low humidity persisting, crews will be on guard for more fire potential throughout the rest of the week.

"As temperatures climb this holiday weekend, many Californians should limit their outdoor activities," Cal Fire said in a news release Saturday. "With the current Fire Weather Watches and Red Flag Warnings, Cal Fire urges you use extreme caution if you have outdoor plans."

SEE ALSO: Power Outages Affect Thousands Across LA Amid Deadly Heatwave

At least three new major wildfires continue to bedevil firefighters Monday night with little-to-no containment reported.

The Creek Fire in the Sierra National Forest had ripped through 78,790 acres as of Monday with 0 percent containment according to Cal Fire.

The blaze triggered the dramatic rescue of 207 people at the Mammoth Pool Reservoir over the weekend. The California National Guard flew in using a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to airlift people to safety, according to the National Guard. Two people suffered major injuries, and at least 10 others were hurt.

A second dramatic rescue was underway Sunday night.

Two military Chinook helicopters were headed to China Peak near Huntington Lake early Sunday evening to rescue about 120 people trapped by the blaze, GV Wire℠ reports.

The fast-spreading Valley Fire in eastern San Diego County has burned through more than 10,000 acres with 1 percent containment and triggered evacuation orders in surrounding communities.

Firefighters are battling the blaze amid steep, rugged terrain in hot, dry conditions, with temperatures that topped out upwards of 108 degrees in the Japatul Valley area near Alpine Sunday.

Ab0ut 15,000 of SDG&E customers were without power due to the Valley Fire and excessive strain on the power grid, the San Diego County utility announced Sunday night.

The massive El Dorado Fire had nearly tripled in size amid record-setting heat Sunday, forcing Yucaipa residents to flee their homes.

The blaze exploded to 7,050 acres and was 5 percent contained as of 7 p.m. on Sunday night, the San Bernardino National Forest said.

The blaze was reported at 2,727 acres on Sunday morning after firefighters battled massive 300-foot walls of flame overnight.

Firefighters also had to contend a crop of new blazes Sunday.

The fast-charging Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest had nearly doubled in size in a matter of hours Sunday night according to the National Forest Service.

Firefighters finally got the upper hand on a stubborn San Fernando Valley brush fire in Burbank that left three people injured and briefly shut down the 405 Freeway.

The blaze started near 15350 Burbank Blvd. in the Sepulveda Basin just before 1 p.m., according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange.

Firefighters stopped a 15- acre blaze from marching south of Winchester Sunday amid sweltering heat and Red Flag Warnings.

The blaze was reported at 12:48 p.m. near the intersection of Winchester and Scott roads, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

A victory was given to both former prisoners and the state's short handed fire crews as lawmakers passed AB 2147. The new law will finally allow formerly incarcerated people who committed nonviolent crimes an opportunity to expunge their records to pursue a career in firefighting.

California lawmakers also worked last 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.

More than 14,100 firefighters are continuing to battle two dozen major wildfires. CAL FIRE has increased staffing in preparation for critical fire weather in multiple areas of the State. More information at: https://t.co/6s2QmGvwFi
Photo by Debbie Strong. pic.twitter.com/0IT1LiPRui
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) September 7, 2020

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

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 as of Monday:

• 14,000+: The number of lightning strikes recorded since Aug. 15.
• 900+: The number of wildfires sparked in the same time period.
• 10,500+: People who remain separated from their homes.
• 2 million: How many acres have burned in 2020.
• 1.7 million: How many acres have burned since Aug. 15.
• 8: The number of lives lost.
• 3,300+: The number of structures destroyed.

Hi-res imagery of the Creek Fire's explosive growth today.

Pyrocumulonimbus mania. Wow. pic.twitter.com/W3q2I9OEzd
— Dakota Smith (@weatherdak) September 6, 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 Sunday, 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, 93% contained
*Hennessey (merged fires) 317,909 acres, 91% contained
*Wallbridge 54,940 acres, 95% contained
*Meyers 2,360 acres, 100% contained
*1,490 structures destroyed
*Evacuations in place
*CAL FIRE IMT-2 in command

READ MORE: NorCal Fires Latest: Firefighters Edge Toward Containment

READ MORE: Sonoma County Walbridge Fire 64-Percent Contained

SCU Lightning Complex Fire (more info…)
Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties
*396,624 acres, 93% contained
*20 fires in the complex, several have merged together
*Canyon/Reservoir (merged) 390,649 acres 88% contained
*Deer 3,104 acres 100% contained
*Evacuations and road closures in place
*224 structures destroyed
* CAL FIRE IMT-6 in command

READ MORE: NorCal Fires Latest: Firefighters Edge Toward Containment

READ MORE: Bay Area Rallies Behind SCU Firefighters

CZU August Lightning Fire (more info…)
San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties
*86,509 acres, 76% contained
*Warnell Fire has now merged into CZU Lightning
*Evacuations in place
*1,490 structures destroyed
*CAL FIRE IMT-3 is in command

READ MORE: CZU Fires Burn 86,500 Acres, 56% Contained

Butte/Tehama/Glenn (BTU/TGU) Lightning Complex, multiple Counties(more info…)
Butte, Tehama and Glenn Counties
*66,459 acres, 58% contained
*Elkhorn 46,850 acres, 55% contained
*Ivory/Doe 16,100 acres, 95% contained
*Potters (5-4) 927 acres, 98% contained
*Includes multiple other smaller fires
*16 structures destroyed
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 4 in command
**Unified Command Incidents**

SEE ALSO: California Man Extinguishes Fire With Bud Light

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

UNIFIED COMMAND FIRES

Creek Fire, Fresno County (more info…)
Northeast of Shaver Lake (Sierra National Forest)
*78,790 acres, 0% contained
*Evacuations in effect
*CAL FIRE and US Forest Service in unified command
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 enroute

READ MORE: Hundreds Airlifted In Dramatic Creek Fire Rescue

Valley Fire, San Diego County (more info…)
Near Alpine (Cleveland National Forest)
*10,258 acres, 1% contained
*Evacuations in effect
*CAL FIRE and US Forest Service in unified command

READ MORE: Valley Fire: 4,000 Acres Burn; Crews Work In Triple Digit Weather

El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…)
West of Oak Glen (San Bernardino National Forest)
*7,386 acres, 7% contained
*Evacuations in place
*California Interagency Incident Management Team 11 in unified command with CAL FIRE and Yucaipa Fire Department

READ MORE: El Dorado Fire: Massive Wall Of Flames Forces More Evacuations

FEDERAL INCIDENTS

Bobcat Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…) NEW
North of Duarte (Angeles National Forest)
*4,867 acres, 0 containment
*Evacuations in progress

READ MORE: 4,871-Acre Bobcat Fire Explodes Overnight In Angeles Forest Area

Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
Southwest of Lake Hughes
Angeles National Forest / Los Angeles County Fire Department
* 31,089 acres, 95% contained

August Complex, Tehama County (more…)
Grindstone Canyon, Elk Creek
*349,565 acres 24% contained
*Includes the Hull Fire and Doe Fire

Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
Ventana Wilderness – Los Padres National Forest
* 36,237 acres acres, 40% 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
* 39,779 acres, 45% contained
*Evacuations in place
*Includes the Sheep and Claremont Fire
*CA IMT Team 1 is in command

Red Salmon Complex – Shasta-Trinity National Forest (more info…)
Northeast of Willow Creek, CA
*39,149 acres, 19% contained

SQF Complex, Tulare County (more…)
East of Giant Sequoia National Monument/ Golden Trout Wilderness
*55,961 acres, 7% contained
*Castle and Shotgun Fires merged into this complex

W-5 Cold Springs, Lassen County (more…)
East of Madeline.
*84,817 acres, 97% containment

Dome, San Bernardino County (more…)
Mojave National Preserve
*43,273 acres, 98% contained

Blue Jay/Wolf Fire, Mariposa County (more info…)
Yosemite National Park Wilderness
*Blue Jay Fire - 508 acres, 15% contained
*Wolf Fire - 597 acres, 20% contained

Woodward Fire, Marin County (more info…)
3 miles southwest of Olema (Point Reyes National Seashore)
*4,835 acres, 95% contained

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