CA Fires 2020: 1.5M Acres Burn As Complex Fires Make Record Books

CALIFORNIA — As the smoke from the massive California wildfires swept over the Hawaiian Islands this week, over 14,200 firefighters remained on the frontlines of 20 major fires Wednesday. Crews made progress on containing fires in warm conditions that were expected to become increasingly more arid.

As crews gained some control over the largest fires, many evacuation orders were lifted this week. Crews were working to bring 18,200 people home Wednesday, a positive decrease from 40,000 displaced over the weekend.

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.

The second and third largest wildfires in state history, the LNU and SCU Lightning Complex Fires, were more than 70 percent Wednesday. This marked a significant milestone in the uphill battle to extinguish three of the largest lightning complex blazes the state has seen burning simultaneously in the last decade.

But the challenge continues as dry weather returns and an excessive heat watch goes into effect for coastal, inland and the foothill regions of the state.

The weekend brought 10 firefighters from Israel 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.

A firefighter died fighting the August Complex Fires Monday, which brought the number of fatalities during this firestorm to eight. A second firefighter is in unknown condition after being injured in the complex, Cal Fire said.

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

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 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.

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 1.5 million acres and destroyed more than 3,100 structures.

#LNULightningComplex - EVACUATION UPDATE – Sonoma County 9.02.20 1030 a.m. pic.twitter.com/zFw14OKfoC
— CAL FIRE LNU (@CALFIRELNU) September 2, 2020

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.

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 as of Wednesday:

• 14,000+: The number of lightning strikes recorded since Aug. 15.
• 900+: The number of wildfires sparked in the same time period.
• 18,200+: People who remain separated from their homes.
• 1.5 million: How many acres have burned in this firestorm.
• 8: The number of lives lost.
• 3,100+: The number of structures destroyed.

SEE ALSO: 17 New Photos Show Impact Of California Wildfires

Here are some of the major fires that were burning in California as of Wednesday, 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, 76% contained
*Hennessey (merged fires) 317,909 acres, 74% contained
*Wallbridge 54,940 acres, 85% contained
*Meyers 2,360 acres, 100% 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
*391,578 acres, 72% 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
*85,467 acres, 46% 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
*61,481 acres, 40% contained
*Elkhorn 39,620 acres, 42% contained
*Ivory/Doe 16,100 acres, 90% contained
*Potters (5-4) 927 acres, 98% contained
*CAL FIRE IMT-4 in command

River Fire (more info…)
Monterey County, East of Salinas
*48,088 acres, 97% 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
* 33,424 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
*261,204 acres 20% contained
*Includes the Hull Fire and Doe Fire

Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
Ventana Wilderness – Los Padres National Forest
* 21,005 acres acres, 35% 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
* 64,473 acres, 38% 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
*42,200 acres, 1% contained
*Castle and Shotgun Fires merged into this complex

W-5 Cold Springs, Lassen County (more…)
East of Madeline.
*84,801 acres, 81% containment

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

Blue Jay/Wolf Fire, Mariposa County (more…)
Yosemite National Forest
*861 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