CA Fires Latest: 2.47M Acres Burned; 10 Major Fires Rage

CALIFORNIA — More than 8,600 firefighters remained on the front lines of 10 major wildfires on Monday. High temperatures and drought conditions continue to drive the state's fire season, as 66 new fires ignited over the weekend — all of which were contained, Cal Fire reported.

The massive KNP Complex fire in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park had charred 62,761 acres by Monday and triggered new evacuation warnings in Fresno County. Fire crews have gained 20 percent containment over that fire.

Meanwhile, in Shasta County, the Fawn Fire was 100 percent contained as of Monday. Also, the devastating French and Antelope fires — which collectively charred more than 170,000 acres on national forest land — were more than 95 percent contained. The Caldor Fire, which devastated the El Dorado National Forest, was 93 percent contained.

As firefighters continued to make significant progress on some of the largest fires burning, dry and breezy conditions were expected to persist across the Cascade and Sierra Crest eastward Monday through Wednesday. A cooling trend was expected to build gradually on Monday and pick up Tuesday and Wednesday in Northern California.

In Southern California, a low pressure system was expected to move over inland areas. Temperatures were beginning to cool, with humidity expected to increase Monday through the end of the week.

Alexandra Souverneva, 30, was accused of inciting the Fawn fire and was charged late last month with felony arson of forest land with an enhancement because of a declared state of emergency in California, Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett said. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in early August.

Souverneva plead not guilty. She remains in custody at the Shasta County Jail; bail was set at $175,000.

The Palo Alto woman told authorites that she was attempting to boil water she found in a puddle while hiking her way to Canada, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Shasta County district attorney's office. She believed the water contained bear urine and tried to filter the water through a tea bag. When that didn't work, she attempted to make a fire to boil the water, according to the complaint.

Cal Fire accused her of "acting irrationally" and trespassing in the area where the fire broke out near Fawndale Road north of Mountain Gate Wednesday afternoon. She walked out of the brush near the fire line around 8 p.m. and approached firefighters who were battling the blaze, told them she was dehydrated and that she needed medical treatment, Cal Fire said.

Last week, California's top utility regulator announced that she will resign as president of the California Public Utilities Commission at the end of the year, according to an email she sent to staffers just as devastating wildfires ramped up the potential for power blackouts.

“I write to inform you, after much thinking and reflection, that I have decided to conclude my service as President of the CPUC at the end of this year,” Marybel Batjer, 65, wrote in a resignation email to staffers.

During her time on the commission, she oversaw Pacific Gas & Electric Co. as it weathered bankruptcy proceedings and faced criminal charges related to wildfires that wrought destruction and killed residents in multiple counties over the last decade.

"This was a difficult decision, as I am so proud of the work we have done together in the face of a changing climate and global pandemic," she said.

As the state sinks further into another possibly record-breaking fire season, Newsom will need to find another leader to fill her shoes by the end of the year. His selection must be approved by the state Legislature.

READ MORE: Top CA Utility Official Who Oversees PG&E Resigns

Historic drought tied to climate change made wildfires harder to fight. It has killed millions of trees in California alone. Climate change has made the West much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive, scientists said.

Some 7,835 wildfires in California this year have damaged or destroyed more than 3,000 homes and other buildings and torched well over 2.47 million acres since the beginning of the year. In comparison to the same time last year, there were 8,278 wildfires, which burned more than 3.6 million acres.

"As Fall season begins, it is important to remember that some of the largest and most destructive wildfires occur during this time of year," Cal Fire officials said in a statement.

The agency urged residents of California to sign up for wildfire alerts here.

Here's an interactive map from Cal Fire of all fires burning in the state this Monday.

See Cal Fire's chart of all major fires burning across the Golden State on Monday.