aggressively worked to strengthen containment lines. Crews performed firing operations throughout the perimeters to burn away vegetation in an attempt to slow down and stop the spread of the wildfires.Since the lightning siege started on Saturday, August 15, 2020, there have been nearly 12,000 lightning strikes, with over 100 occurring yesterday. During this time-period, there have been more than 585 new wildfires, which have burned nearly a million acres.
With so many fires burning at one time, CAL FIRE has continued to request additional support from local fire departments across the State, as well as hundreds of fire engines from other states. The National Guard has been activated and is providing helicopter support and a dozen 20-person crews. The federal military is supporting the effort with several C-130 aircraft equipped with modular firefighting systems known as MAFFS that allow them to be large airtankers.
The weather forecast for this weekend continues to be warm and dry. Remnants of Hurricane Genevieve will bring thunderstorms as early as Sunday and continue through Tuesday. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for lightning with very little to no rain. The winds will generally be light, however erratic gusty winds of up to 65mph may occur. This dry lightning will likely hamper efforts to contain the current fires and may spark new fires.
With extreme fire danger expected this weekend, it is critical that all Californians take steps to prevent sparking a wildfire. To learn more ways to prevent sparking a wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
Fires of Interest:
**CAL FIRE Incidents**
LNU Lightning Complex Fire, Napa County (more info…)
Napa County
State DPA, SRA, Napa County
* 314,207 acres, 15% contained
*Hennessey (merged fires) 261,793 acres, 15% contained
*Wallbridge 50,069 acres, 0% contained
*Meyers 2,345 acres, 0% contained
*Estimated 560 structures destroyed
*Evacuations in place
*CAL FIRE IMT-2 in command
SCU Lightning Complex Fire, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties (more info…)
Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties
* 291,968 acres, 10% contained
*20 fires in the complex
*Marsh 3,000 acres
*Canyon/Reservoir (merged) 285,485 acres
*Deer 3,294 acres
*Arroyo 189 acres
*Evacuations and road closures in place
*5 structures destroyed
*CA IMT-6 in command
CZU August Lightning Fire, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties (more info…)
San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties
*63,000 acres, 5% contained
*Warnell Fire has now merged into CZU Lightning
*Evacuations in place
*97 structures destroyed
*CAL FIRE IMT #3 is in command
BTU/TGU Lightning Complex Fire, Butte and Glenn Counties (more info…)
Butte, Tehama and Glenn Counties
*31,240 acres, 13% contained
*Elkhorn 19,118 acres
*Ivory 4,500 acres
*Potters (5-4 ) 1,012 acres
*CAL FIRE IMT- 4 in command
River Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
East of Salinas
*44,987 acres, 12% contained
*16 structures destroyed
Evacuations in place
*CAL FIRE IMT Team 1 in command
Carmel Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
South of Carmel
*5,523 acres, 5% contained
*32 structures destroyed
*Evacuations in place
*CAL FIRE IMT 1 Team in command
Moc Fire, Tuolumne County (more…)
Moccasin
• 2,800 acres, brush, 0% contained
• Continued structure threat
• Evacuations in place
Salt Fire, Calaveras County (more info…)
Northeast of Copperopolis
*1,789 acres, 85% contained
Hills Fire, Fresno County (more info…)
South of Coalinga
*1,900 acres 80% contained
Jones Fire, Nevada County (more info…)
Northwest of Nevada City
*705 acres, 35% contained
*Evacuation in place
*5 residential structures destroyed
Volcano Fire, San Diego County (more info…)
West of Temecula City
*45 acres, 80% contained
**Unified Command Fires**
Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
Southwest of Lake Hughes
* 30,763 acres, 52% contained
*Continued structure threat
*Unified Command USFS and Los Angeles County Fire
*CA IMT Team 5 is in command
**Federal Incidents**
Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
Ventana Wilderness – Los Padres National Forest
* 14,000 acres, 0% contained
Ranch 2 Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
San Gabriel Canyon
*4,237 acres, 49% 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
*27,701 acres, 5% contained
*Evacuations in place
* Includes the Claremont Fire
*Road and trail closures in effect
*CA IMT Team 1 is in command
Loyalton, Vegetation Fire, Sierra County (more info…)
East of Loyalton – Tahoe National Forest
* 47,028 acres, 75% contained
Red Salmon Complex – Shasta-Trinity National Forest (more info…)
Northeast of Willow Creek, CA
*18,566 acres, 39% contained
Castle Fire, Tulare County (more…)
East of Giant Sequoia National Monument
*400 acres, brush and timber, 0% contained
**Local Government**
Holser, Vegetation Fire, Ventura County/Los Angeles County (more info...)
South of Lake Piru
*3,000 acres, 95% contained
Source: CAL FIRE
