CA Fires: Nearly One Million Acres Burned, 6 dead

CALIFORNIA — Thousands of firefighters are on the frontlines of more than two dozen major wildfires in California that are being fueled by relentless heat. With fire agencies and military efforts combined, crews battled the second and third largest fires in California history over the weekend.

Since Saturday, the state has experienced an onslaught of nearly 12,000 lightning strikes — with another 100 striking Friday — triggering more than 585 new wildfires since Aug. 15.

As wildfires continued to hammer a state shrouded in smoke and hampered by heat and dry lightning, fire crews were overwhelmed. Cal Fire has continued to request additional support from fire departments across the state as well as hundreds of fire engines from other states and countries, according to the agency.

During a news conference Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he asked Australia and Canada to come to the state's aid in suppressing the fires in what he called "an unprecedented moment," in the Golden State's history.

According to Cal Fire, the military is also supporting the effort with several C-130 aircrafts equipped with fire fighting systems that double as air tankers.

The fires, which have burned nearly a million acres, have claimed six lives and prompted tens of thousands to evacuate their homes amid a record-breaking heat wave and rolling power outages.

Newsom declared a statewide emergency Tuesday, securing federal aid and deploying personnel from The National Guard to provide helicopter support and a dozen 20-person crews.

These Surreal Photos Demonstrate The Severity Of CA's Wildfires

By Saturday night, the SCU Lightning Complex had become the state's second largest fire ever, burning more than 339,968 acres with just 10 percent containment. The LNU Lightning Complex had become the third largest wildfire in state history, scorching 314,207 acres with just 15 percent containment.

"The hots are getting hotter. The dries are getting drier. Climate change is real," Gov. Gavin Newsom said as he addressed the wildfires in a video recorded for the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night. "If you are in denial about climate change, come to California."

As of Aug. 22, the #LNULightningComplex is now the 2nd largest fire in CA history & the #SCULightningComplex is now 3rd. This shows just how dry the conditions are in CA. More lightning is anticipated tomorrow & into Tuesday – everyone must remain alert & have an evacuation plan pic.twitter.com/BFhGJwPWbo
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) August 22, 2020

The fires ravaging the California have proven deadly.

A helicopter pilot was killed in a crash Wednesday while fighting the Hills Fire near Coalinga in Fresno County.

Four people have died in connection with the LNU Lightning Complex fires in the North Bay.

Three people were found dead Wednesday in Napa County, according to the Napa County Sheriff-Coroner's Office. A Pacific Gas & Electric employee died Wednesday while helping first responders with the fires in the Gates Canyon area near Vacaville in Solano County.

Nearly three dozen California State Parks near raging wildfires closed this week amid poor air quality and continued firefights.

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

SCU Lightning Complex

• 339,968 acres; 10 percent contained as of 8:35 p.m. Aug. 22
• Start Date: Aug. 18
• Counties: Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Stanislaus
• Location: Multiple locations throughout Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties
• Multiple evacuations ordered
• READ MORE: SCU Lightning Complex Is 2nd Largest In CA History

LNU Lightning Complex (includes Hennessey, Gamble, 15-10, Spanish, Markley, 13-4, 11-16)

• 325,128 acres, 15 percent contained as of 8:34 p.m. Aug. 22
• Start Date: Aug. 17
• Counties: Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Yolo and Solano
• Location: Multiple locations throughout Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Yolo and Solano counties
• Multiple evacuations ordered
• READ MORE: LNU Lightning Complex Fire Is 3rd Largest In CA History
• READ MORE: PG&E Employee Dies Assigned To LNU Lightning Complex Fire
• READ MORE: The Salvation Army Feeds Lightning Complex Fire Crews, Evacuees

CZU August Lightning Complex

• 67,000 acres, 5 percent contained as of 8:10 p.m. Aug. 22
• Start Date: Aug. 16
• Counties: Santa Cruz, San Mateo
• Location: Multiple locations throughout San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties
• READ MORE: CZU Lightning Complex Fires: Cal Fire Urges Residents To Evacuate

River Fire

• 44,987 acres, 12 percent contained as of 6:03 p.m. Aug. 22
• Start Date: Aug. 16
• County: Monterey
• Location: Pine Canyon and River Road, east of Salinas

Apple Fire

• 33,424 acres, 95 percent contained as of Aug. 18
• Start Date: July 31
• County: Riverside
• Location: Off of Oak Glen Road and Apple Tree Lane, north of Cherry Valley
• READ MORE: Apple Fire Burn Area Mapped, Spared From Flooding and Mudslides

BTU/TGU Lightning Complex Fire

• 28,617 acres, 13 percent contained as of 3:41 p.m. Aug. 22
• Start Date: Aug. 17
• County: Butte, Tehama and Glenn counties

Lake Fire

• 30,763 acres, 52 percent contained as of 7:37 p.m. Aug. 22
• Start Date: Aug. 12
• County: Los Angeles
• Location: Lake Hughes Road and Prospect Road, southwest Lake Hughes

North Complex Fire

• 17,782 acres, 5 percent contained as of 11:10 a.m. Aug. 22
• Start Date: Aug. 18
• County: Plumas
• Location: Flemmings Sheep Camp

Carmel Fire

• 6,695 acres, 7 percent contained as of 8:24 p.m. Saturday
• Start Date: Aug. 18
• County: Monterey
• Location: Cachagua Road and Carmel Valley Road, south of Carmel
• READ MORE: As Carmel Fire Rages, Newsom Grabs Federal Assistance

Holser Fire

• 3,000 acres, 80 percent contained as of Aug. 21
• Start Date: Aug. 17
• County: Ventura
• Location: Holser Canyon Road and Piru Canyon Road, south of Lake Piru

Salt Fire

• 1,789 acres, 85 percent contained as of 9:26 a.m. Aug. 22
• Start Date: Aug. 18
• County: Calaveras
• Location: Salt Springs Valley Reservoir

Hills Fire

• 1,900 acres, 80 percent contained as of 9:33 a.m. Aug. 22
• Start Date: Aug. 15
• County: Fresno
• Location: Highway 33 and Sutter Avenue, south of Coalinga in Fresno County

Woodward Fire

• 2,700 acres, 5 percent contained as of 9 p.m. Aug. 22
• Start Date: Aug. 18
• County: Marin
• Location: Point Reyes National Seashore
• READ MORE: Woodward Fire: 2,259 Acres Burned, 5% Contained In Marin County

Dolan Fire

• 14,000 acres, 10 percent contained as of 11:02 a.m. Aug. 22
• Start Date: Aug. 19
• County: Monterey
• READ MORE: Dolan Fire Shuts Highway 1 And Burns In All Directions
• SEE ALSO: Man Accused Of Arson In Connection To Big Sur Dolan Fire

Potters Fire

• 930 acres, 20 percent contained as of Aug. 18
• Start Date: Aug. 18
• County: Butte
• Location: Potters Ravine Drive and Oregon Gulch Road, northeast of Oroville

Jones Fire

• 705 acres, 35 percent contained as of Aug. 22
• Start Date: Aug. 17
• County: Nevada
• Location: Jones Bar Road, Yuba River Drainage, northwest of Nevada City

Creek Fire

• 820 acres, 100 percent contained as of 9 a.m. Aug. 22
• Start Date: Aug. 18
• County: Mendocino
• Location: Covelo, Highway 162 and Short Creek Road

Elsmere Fire

• 200 acres, 30 percent contained as of Aug. 21
• Start Date: Aug. 3
• County: Los Angeles
• Location: Elsmere Grapevine Road and Santa Clarita Truck Trail, Newhall

Post Fire

• 120 acres, 35 percent contained as of Aug. 21
• Start Date: Aug. 2
• County: Los Angeles
• Location: Northbound I-5 and Highway 138, south of Gorman in Los Angeles County

3-19 Fire

• 62 acres, 100 percent contained as of 7 a.m. Aug. 21
• Start Date: Aug. 18
• County: Mendocino
• Location: Burris Lane in Potter Valley

(As Cal Fire's website has been down intermittently, here are some alternate places to find the latest information on fires burning across California: The National Forest Service's Fire Map I Cal Fire's official Twitter account I Cal Fire's Official Facebook page)

State, federal, local, and military resources are on the front lines aggressively battling the dynamic wildfires across California. As they continue their efforts, you can do your part to plan, prepare, and stay aware. Learn more at https://t.co/sWZPp02O9t. pic.twitter.com/OattIdjyAl — CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) August 21, 2020