CA Fires 2020: Crews Face New Major Blazes Amid Scorching Heat

CALIFORNIA — Firefighters charged into triple digit weather to battle a new lineup of three major fires Sunday as the state's dry and scorching heatwave persisted. Overnight, new blazes in Fresno, San Diego and San Bernardino counties swelled rapidly, prompting Cal Fire to deploy more personnel to the frontlines.

As crews worked to gain control over the string of lightning complex fires in the north, additional first responders amassed to evacuate residents and battle towering walls of flame in the southern reaches of the state.

As of Sunday, there were nearly 15,000 firefighters battling 23 major fires and lightning complexes amid the dangerous and record-breaking heatwave, which arrived in California over Labor Day weekend.

"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.

Across Southern California, more than 20,200 residents experienced power outages due to the heat wave Saturday, with additional outages due to the fires burning, said Ron Gales, a spokesperson for Southern California Edison.

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

"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."

At least three major wildfires continued to bedevil firefighters into Sunday night with little-to-no containment reported.

The Creek Fire in the Sierra National Forest had ripped through 73,278 acres as of 8:41 p.m. Sunday night with 0 percent containment according to a San Francisco Chronicle report.

The blaze triggered the dramatic rescue of 207 people at the Mammoth Pool Reservoir. 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 5,350 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 topping 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.

The massive El Dorado Fire has 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 has nearly doubled in size since it was first reported Sunday afternoon according to the National Forest Service.

The blaze ripped through 1,800 acres burning near the Cogswell Dam area with 0 percent containment as of 7 p.m. It had consumed 1,000 acres when it was reported as a two-alarm brush fire Sunday afternoon.

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.

Firefighters managed to contain two major fires Friday, the 48,000 acres River Fire and the 6,900 acres Carmel Fire, sending thousands home.

More than 30,000 people were also reunited with their homes throughout the week, leaving just over 10,500 displaced over the weekend.

Tens of thousands of firefighters were edging toward full containment Sunday on many fires, including the largest: The LNU Lightning Complex, which was 89 percent contained, and the SCU Lightning Complex, which was 86 percent contained.

An onset of early August thunderstorms brought more than 14,000 lightning strikes, igniting more than 900 wildfires around the Golden State, which collectively burned 1.6 million acres and destroyed more than 3,300 structures.

The National Weather Service issued multiple Fire Weather Watches and Red Flag Warnings for the holiday weekend, spilling into next week.

Several of the devastating wildfires burning Wednesday had made the record books, Cal Fire announced Wednesday. The CZU August and LNU lightning complex fires became the ninth and 10th most destructive wildfires in state history. The LNU Lightning Complex had also become the 19th deadliest wildfire in California history, resulting in five fatalities.

Ten firefighters arrived from Israel last week to help suppress the massive fires still burning in Northern California, marking the first time Israelis have come to the aid of a U.S. fire effort.

Texas firefighter Diana Jones, 63, died fighting the August Complex Fires Monday, which brought the number of fatalities during this firestorm to eight. Jones was working with two other firefighters on the lines of the Tatham Fire in Tehama County when flames engulfed the truck they were in, according to multiple reports.

The other two firefighters escaped the truck but one suffered burn injuries and was transported to a hospital.

A victory was given to both former prisoners and the state's short handed fire crews as lawmakers passed AB 2147 Monday. 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.

Red Flag Warnings as of Sunday:

• A warning for Modoc County was issued for this afternoon and through the evening.
• A warning was issued for much of the Inland Empire down through San Diego today through Sunday night.

Areas on Fire Weather Watch as of Sunday:

• A watch was issued across much of Northern California including the Bay Area and the Eastern Sierra to the Mojave Desert starting Monday.

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 Sunday:

• 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.
• 1.6 million: How many acres have burned in this firestorm.
• 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, 89% contained
*Hennessey (merged fires) 317,909 acres, 89% 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, 88% 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
*182 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, 68% 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
*66,109 acres, 50% contained
*Elkhorn 46,500 acres, 50% contained
*Ivory/Doe 16,100 acres, 90% 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)
*45,531 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)
*4,000 acres, 0% 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)
*3,010 acres, 5% 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

Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
Southwest of Lake Hughes
* 31,089 acres, 96% 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
*325,172 acres 24% contained
*Includes the Hull Fire and Doe Fire

Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
Ventana Wilderness – Los Padres National Forest
* 34,175 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
* 38,164 acres, 40% 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
*37,638 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, 96% 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 - 494 acres, 0% contained

Woodward Fire, Marin County (more info…)
3 miles southwest of Olema (Point Reyes National Seashore)
*4,813 acres, 93% contained

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