Major California Wildfires

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On June 20th, a major thunderstorm cell moved over Northern California, starting over 1400 fires from dry lightning strikes. Almost 3 weeks later, while a majority have been contained, over 300 of those fires are still out of control. Here's some stats from Cal Fire (Formerly California Department of Forestry and Fire):

Statewide Fire Overview - Lightning Series

Current Situation: Firefighters continue to make progress in containing wildfires throughout California. To date over fourteen hundred fires have been contained due to the diligent and endless work of firefighters from not only California, but throughout the nation. Last night winds picked up causing a dramatic increase in fire behavior and increased evacuations on many fires. Red Flag Warnings have been issued and will take effect this afternoon for high daytime temperatures, low relative humidity with poor overnight recovery, and locally breezy conditions. The Warnings extend primarily along the coastal range from San Benito County north to the Oregon border and will remain in effect through Wednesday evening. The priority of firefighting is for the protection of life, property and natural resources.

Download the latest fact sheet. (Updated 7/8 at 9 a.m.)

Statewide Fire Statistics

Total Fires at Peak: 1,781

Total Fires Contained: 1,458

Total Active Fires: 323

Total Acres Burned: 630,886

These numbers are total fires and acres that have occurred from state, local and federal firefighting agencies beginning June 20, 2008.

CAL FIRE Statistics

Total Fires at Peak: 1,005

Fires Contained: 814

Active Fires: 59

These numbers are total fires and acres that have occurred ONLY in CAL FIRE jurisdiction since June 20, 2008.

The number of contained and active fires will not equal the total due to some fires merging together.

Statewide Resources Committed

Personnel Committed: 18,415

Fire Engines: 1,403

Hand Crews: 388

Dozers: 269

Water Tenders: 392

Helicopters: 95

Items of Interest :

Highway closures: State highways, county and local roads are closed throughout California due to wildfire activities. Closures and delays remain in place for State Highways 1 (Big Sur Area), 32, 70 and 96. Travelers are advised to seek current information from local law enforcement.

Evacuations: Areas of Butte, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Shasta counties are under evacuation orders at this time. Precautionary evacuation orders currently exist in areas in Kern, Mendocino, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Plumas counties. Residents are advised to monitor their local fire situation, check with local law enforcement agencies for information, and be prepared to evacuate when necessary.

Structures:

Threatened : 8,874 residences, 168 commercial, 2,085 outbuildings.

Destroyed : 40 residences, 1 commercial, 61 outbuildings.

CAL FIRE Summary of Fires by County

Butte: The Butte Lightning Complex has burned 37,000 acres and is 55% contained. The Butte Fire Information Number is (530) 538-7826. Click Here for more information.

Mendocino: The Mendocino Lightning Complex has burned 48,880 acres and is 60% contained. The Mendocino Fire Information Number is (707)-467-6426. Click Here for more information.

Shasta & Trinity: The Shasta and Trinity Lightning has burned 53,877 acres and is 65% contained. The Shasta-Trinity Unit Information Number is (530) 225-2510. Click Here for more information.

Humboldt: The Humboldt Complex has burned 1,310 acres and is 85% contained. The fires are burning throughout Humboldt County, with the largest fire, the Paradise Fire, north of Shelter Cove and is 925 acres and 85% contained. The Humboldt-Del Norte Fire Information Number is (707) 726-1225.

Lassen, Modoc: The Corral Fire burned 12,434 acres and is now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.

Mariposa: The Oliver Fire burned 2,789 acres and now 100% contained.Click Here for more information.

Lake: The Walker Fire burned 14,500 acres and is now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.

Napa & Solano: The Wild Fire burned 40,000 acres and is now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.

Santa Clara: The Whitehurst and Hummingbird Fires burned a combined 994 acres and are both now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.

Tehama & Glenn: The Tehama-Glenn Lightning Complex burned 22,907 acres and is now 100% contained.

Major Federal and Local Incidents

Kern County: The Piute Fire has burned 30,747 acres and is 22% contained.

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President Bush set to survey California wildfires

By JULIANA BARBASSA - Associated Press Writer

Published 12:15 pm PDT Thursday, July 17, 2008

President Bush was set to visit Northern California on Thursday to get a first-hand look at the wildfires that have ravaged hundreds of square miles and strained the state's firefighting resources.

The president was expected to travel to Redding to get a briefing on the wildfires, then take an aerial tour to survey fire damage in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to White House officials. Bush also plans to attend a private Republican fundraising event in Napa.

Firefighters continue to battle dozens of blazes around the state, many sparked by a massive lightning storm three weeks ago. More than 2,000 wildfires have burned nearly 1,400 square miles since June 21.

Sacramento Bee Article

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Here's the latest Update on the Northern California Lightning Fire from the Cal-Fire Website Cal Fire Incident Webpage

Statewide Fire Overview - Lightning Series Current Situation: Over two thousand fires have been contained due to the endless firefighting efforts of state, local and federal personnel and equipment from California, as well as from the rest of the nation and several foreign countries. Generally favorable weather conditions have resulted in continuing good progress on the fire lines. The southern Sierra Nevada again experienced thundershower activity, with numerous lightning strikes, this afternoon. The priority of firefighting is for the protection of life, property and natural resources.

Download the latest fact sheet. (Updated 7/16 at 9 p.m.) Download the latest statewide map.

Statewide Fire Statistics

Total Fires at Peak: 2,093

Total Fires Contained: 2,050

Total Active Fires: 43

Total Acres Burned: 887,315

These numbers are total fires and acres that have occurred from state, local and federal firefighting agencies beginning June 20, 2008.

CAL FIRE Statistics

Total Fires at Peak: 1,005

Fires Contained: 994

Active Fires: 11

Acres Burned: 262,133

These numbers are total fires and acres that have occurred ONLY in CAL FIRE jurisdiction since June 20, 2008.

The number of contained and active fires will not equal the total due to some fires merging together.

Statewide Resources Committed

Personnel Committed: 18,571

Fire Engines: 1,104

Hand Crews: 447

Dozers: 196

Water Tenders: 326

Helicopters: 110

Highway closures: Travel on state highways, county and local roads remains restricted throughout California due to wildfire and flood activities. All major roads are now open with delays on State Highways 32 and 70 . Travelers are advised to seek current information on secondary road closures from local law enforcement. Click here for detailed road closures.

Evacuations:Areas of Monterey, Shasta and Trinity counties are under evacuation orders at this time. Precautionary evacuation orders currently exist in areas in Butte, Kern (flash flooding) and Trinity counties. Residents are advised to monitor their local fire situation, check with local law enforcement agencies for information, and be prepared to evacuate when necessary. Click here for detailed evacuation information.

Structures:

Threatened : 5,360 residences, 97 commercial, 1,970 outbuildings.

Destroyed : 101 residences, 1 commercial, 138 outbuildings.

CAL FIRE Summary of Fires by County

Butte: The Butte Lightning Complex has burned 54,424 acres and is 80% contained. The Butte Fire Information Number is (530) 538-7826. Click Here for more information.

Mendocino: The Mendocino Lightning Complex has burned 53,300 acres and is 95% contained. The Mendocino Fire Information Number is (707)-467-6426. Click Here for more information.

Shasta & Trinity: The Shasta and Trinity Lightning has burned 82,536 acres and is 60% contained. The Shasta-Trinity Unit Information Number is (530) 225-2510. Click Here for more information.

Humboldt: The Humboldt Complex burned 1,325 acres and is now 100% contained.

Lassen, Modoc: The Corral Fire burned 12,434 acres and is now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.

Mariposa: The Oliver Fire burned 2,789 acres and now 100% contained.Click Here for more information.

Lake: The Walker Fire burned 14,500 acres and is now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.

Napa & Solano: The Wild Fire burned 40,000 acres and is now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.

Santa Clara: The Whitehurst and Hummingbird Fires burned a combined 994 acres and are both now 100% contained. Click Here for more information.

Tehama & Glenn: The Tehama-Glenn Lightning Complex burned 22,907 acres and is now 100% contained.

Major Federal and Local Incidents For information on major federal incidents click here.

Kern County: The Piute Fire has burned 37,026 acres and is 95% contained.