2018 California wildfires

2018 California wildfires
1
2
3
4
5
1
Garner Complex
2
Natchez Fire
3
Carr Fire
4
Mendocino Complex
5
Ferguson Fire
Satellite image of the wildfires burning in Northern California and in southern Oregon, on August 1, 2018; smoke is can be seen trailing northeastward over Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho
Statistics[1][2][3]
Total fires 6,936
Total area 1,518,918 acres (6,146.84 km2)
Cost >$2.973 billion (2018 USD)[4][5][6][7]
Fatalities 8 civilians, 6 firefighters[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]
Non-fatal injuries At least 41
Season
← 2017
2019 →

The 2018 California wildfires are a series of wildfires that have burned across the state of California during 2018. A total of 6,936 fires had burned an area of 1,518,918 acres (6,146.84 km2), according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the National Interagency Fire Center, as of October 12.[1][2][3] The fires caused over $2.973 billion (2018 USD) in damages, including $1.364 billion in fire suppression costs.[4][5][6][7] Through the end of August 2018, Cal Fire alone spent $432 million on operations.[16] The Mendocino Complex Fire burned more than 459,000 acres (1,860 km2), becoming the largest complex fire in the state's history, with the complex's Ranch Fire surpassing the Thomas Fire to become California's single-largest modern wildfire.[17][18]

On August 4, 2018, a national disaster was declared in Northern California, due to the massive wildfires burning there.[19]

Increased fire susceptibility

Many different factors led to the 2018 California wildfire season becoming so destructive. A combination of an increased amount of natural fuel and compounding atmospheric conditions linked to global warming led to a series of destructive fires.

Increase in fuel

A direct contributor to the 2018 California wildfires was an increase in dead tree fuel.[20] By December 2017, there were a record 129 million dead trees in California.[21]

Atmospheric conditions

Stanford Earth System Science Professor Noah Diffenbaugh stated that atmospheric conditions for California wildfires are expected to worsen in the future because of the effects of climate change in California and that "what we're seeing over the last few years in terms of the wildfire season in California [is] very consistent with the historical trends in terms of increasing temperatures, increasing dryness, and increasing wildfire risk". Other experts agreed, saying that global warming is to blame for these extreme weather conditions. Global warming led to higher temperatures and less rain, creating a drier landscape that gave fires more fuel to burn longer and stronger.[22]

Home construction in the wildland-urban interface

A wildland–urban interface (or WUI) refers to the zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development. Communities that are within 0.5 miles (0.80 km) of the zone may also be included. These lands and communities adjacent to and surrounded by wildlands are at risk of wildfires.[23] Since the 1990s, over 43% of new homes have been constructed in this area. In some areas, the amount of new homes in those areas is 80%.[24] In the past, when these areas burned, no homes were lost, but now homes are present there and end up being destroyed.[25]

Air quality

Air quality of California on August 7, 2018

Northern California and the Central Valley saw drastic increases in air pollutants during the height of the July and August fires, while Southern California also experienced an increase in air pollution in August.[26] Air quality in Northern and Central California remained poor until mid-September 2018, when fire activity was drastically diminished.

California National Guard battles wildfires.
Hume Lake showing extensive mountain pine beetle damage as of April 2016. Hume Lake, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California
Photograph of smoky sky near sunset in early August looking toward the west, in Sacramento. The smoke was produced by the wildfires.

Wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres, or produced significant structural damage or loss of life.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Status Notes Ref
PleasantInyo2,070February 18, 2018April 3, 2018Contained[27]
MoffatInyo1,265April 19, 2018May 21, 2018Contained[28]
NeesMerced1,756May 2, 2018May 17, 2018Contained[29]
PattersonRiverside1,261May 17, 2018May 21, 2018Contained[30]
PanocheSan Benito64June 4, 2018June 7, 2018Contained3 civilians killed[31][8]
StoneLos Angeles1,352June 4, 2018June 13, 2018Contained[32]
AirlineSan Benito1,314June 4, 2018June 14, 2018Contained[33]
AppleTehama2,956June 9, 2018June 14, 2018Contained3 residential structures and 2 outbuilding destroyed[34]
ChromeGlenn2,290June 9, 2018June 21, 2018Contained1 outbuilding destroyed[35]
LionsMadera13,347June 11, 2018October 1, 2018Contained[36][37]
PlanadaMerced4,564June 15, 2018June 21, 2018Contained[38]
YankeeSan Luis Obispo1,500June 20, 2018July 1, 2018Contained[39]
LaneTehama3,716June 23, 2018July 4, 2018Contained1 injury[40]
PawneeLake15,185June 23, 2018July 8, 2018Contained22 structures destroyed, 1 injury[41]
CreekMadera1,678June 24, 2018July 5, 2018Contained4 residential structures and 7 minor structures destroyed[42]
WaverlySan Joaquin12,300June 29, 2018July 2, 2018Contained[43]
CountyLake, Napa, Yolo90,288June 30, 2018July 14, 2018Contained20 structures destroyed; 1 firefighter injured[44]
KlamathonSiskiyou38,008July 5, 2018July 16, 2018Contained82 structures destroyed; 3 injuries, 1 civilian killed[45][46]
ValleySan Bernardino1,350July 6, 201882% contained5 injured[47][48][4]
HolidaySanta Barbara113July 6, 2018July 11, 2018Contained20 structures destroyed[49]
Pendleton ComplexSan Diego1,800July 6, 2018July 11, 2018ContainedOriginated as 3 separate fires; burned in Camp Pendleton[50][51]
WestSan Diego504July 6, 2018July 11, 2018Contained56 structures destroyed[52]
GeorgesInyo2,883July 8, 2018July 18, 2018Contained[53][54][4]
FergusonMariposa96,901July 13, 2018August 18, 2018Contained19 firefighters injured, 2 firefighters killed; 10 structures destroyed[9][55]
EagleModoc2,100July 13, 2018July 17, 2018Contained[56][4]
NatchezDel Norte, Siskiyou38,134July 15, 201889% contained[57]
CarrShasta229,651July 23, 2018August 30, 2018Contained1,079 residences, 22 commercial structures, 503 outbuildings destroyed - 190 residences, 26 commercial structures, and 63 outbuildings damaged; 3 firefighters and 5 civilians killed[58]
CranstonRiverside13,139July 26, 2018August 10, 2018Contained[59]
Mendocino ComplexMendocino, Lake, Colusa, Glenn459,123July 27, 2018September 18, 2018ContainedThe Ranch and River Fires are collectively called the Mendocino Complex Fire. 157 residential buildings destroyed, 123 others destroyed - 13 residential buildings and 24 other buildings damaged; 1 firefighter killed, 4 firefighters injured[60][61][18][62]
WhalebackLassen18,703July 27, 2018August 7, 2018Contained[63]
ButteSutter1,200July 31, 2018August 3, 2018Contained[64]
DonnellTuolumne36,450August 1, 2018October 1, 2018Contained135 structures destroyed; 9 injured[65]
TarinaKern2,950August 3, 2018August 6, 2018Contained[66]
PendletonSan Diego1,000August 5, 2018August 6, 2018ContainedBurned in Camp Pendleton[67]
TurkeyMonterey2,225August 6, 2018August 6, 2018Contained[68]
HolyOrange, Riverside23,136August 6, 2018September 13, 2018Contained18 buildings destroyed; 3 firefighters injured[69][70][71][72]
FiveKings2,995August 6, 2018August 8, 2018Contained[73]
HirzShasta46,150August 9, 2018September 12, 2018Contained[74]
HatShasta1,900August 9, 2018August 16, 2018Contained[75]
NelsonSolano2,162August 10, 2018August 12, 2018Contained[76]
StoneModoc39,387August 15, 2018August 29, 2018Contained[77]
Mill Creek 1Humboldt3,674August 16, 2018August 30, 2018Contained[78]
FrontSan Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara1,014August 19, 2018August 29, 2018Contained[79]
NorthPlacer1,120September 3, 2018September 16, 2018Contained[80]
BootMono6,974September 4, 2018September 15, 2018Contained[81]
KerlinTrinity1,751September 4, 2018September 17, 2018Contained[82]
DeltaShasta63,311September 5, 2018October 7, 2018ContainedMerged into the Hirz Fire. 20 structures destroyed[83]
SnellNapa2,490September 8, 2018September 15, 2018Contained[84]
CharlieLos Angeles3,380September 22, 2018October 1, 2018Contained[85][86]
BranscombeSolano4,700October 7, 201890% contained4 buildings destroyed[87][88][89]
SunTehama3,889October 7, 2018October 12, 2018Contained[90]

Fatalities

On June 4, the Panoche Fire broke out, in a series of three blazes that started in the San Benito County area. While the Panoche incident was the smallest of the three fires, burning only 64 acres (26 ha), the remains of three people were found in a destroyed camping trailer in the burn area.[8][91] The remains were believed to belong to a mother, a toddler, and an infant.[8][92]

On July 14, a Cal Fire bulldozer operator was killed while fighting the Ferguson Fire, becoming the first firefighter death of the season.[9]

On July 23, the Carr Fire broke out after a vehicle malfunctioned. While the Carr Fire burned in rural areas of Shasta County for the first few days, it crossed the Sacramento River and entered the city limits of Redding, California on the evening of July 26. By the next morning, 2 firefighters and 4 civilians had been killed.[10][11][93] By the afternoon of July 29, there were 7 people still unaccounted for.[94]

On July 29, a firefighter with the National Park Service was killed after a dead tree fell and struck him, while he was fighting the Ferguson Fire. He was "treated on scene, but died before he could be taken to the hospital".[12]

On August 4, a PG&E employee was killed in a vehicle incident while working to restore services to areas impacted by the Carr Fire.[13]

On August 9, a CAL Fire heavy equipment mechanic was killed in a traffic incident while working at the Carr Fire.[14]

On August 13, a firefighter was killed while fighting the Mendocino Complex Fire.[15]

Verizon Wireless data throttling

The Santa Clara County Fire Department raised claims against Verizon Wireless that their "unlimited" data service had been throttled while the company was attempting to contain the wildfire. Their plan was intended to be throttled down to 200 kbps or 600 kbps after 25 GB a month, and it would be removed under emergency situations. According to the department, this was not followed, even after the company was notified.[95][96]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "2018 Fire Statistics". CAL FIRE. October 7, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "2018 National Year-to-Date Report on Fires and Acres Burned" (PDF). NIFC. October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Southern Area Coordination Center". Southern Area Coordination Center. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "2018 National Large Incident Year-to-Date Report" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Don Jergler (2 August 2018). "Carr Fire Losses May Reach $1.5B in Likely Another Destructive Season for California". Insurance Journal. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  6. 1 2 Wes Siler (17 August 2018). "The Economic Impact of Yosemite's Ferguson Fire". Outside Online. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  7. 1 2 Hannah Beausang (September 6, 2018). "Mendocino Complex wildfires cause $56 million of insured losses". North Bay Business Journal. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Woman, toddler, infant found dead at Central California wildfire scene". Los Angeles Times. June 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 "Services set in Modesto for Cal Fire bulldozer operator killed fighting Ferguson fire". modbee. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  10. 1 2 "Two Missing Kids, Great-Grandmother in Redding Found Dead: Family". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 2018-07-28.
  11. 1 2 "Carr Fire kills two firefighters near Redding, destroys 500 structures". SF Gate. Retrieved 2018-07-28.
  12. 1 2 "Second firefighter killed fighting Ferguson Fire, officials confirm". Fresno Bee. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  13. 1 2 "PG&E employee becomes seventh Carr Fire fatality". Redding Record Searchlight. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  14. 1 2 Browning, Kellen (9 August 2018). "Eighth person dies in relation to Carr Fire". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  15. 1 2 "Mendocino Complex Press Conferenece" (PDF). Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  16. ↑ Berger, Noah; Elias, Paul (7 September 2018). "California takes financial wallop from unrelenting wildfires". Associated Press. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  17. ↑ "California wildfire declared 'largest in state's history'". BBC News. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  18. 1 2 "Ranch Fire". CAL FIRE. August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  19. ↑ California, State of. "Governor Brown Announces Federal Approval of Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Shasta County – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr". www.gov.ca.gov. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  20. ↑ "Ferguson Fire: Tree mortality epidemic adding to fire crews' headaches". San Francisco Chronicle. July 26, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Record 129 Million Dead Trees in California" (PDF). United States Forest Service. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  22. ↑ "California wildfires will get worse in the future because of climate change, experts say". The Independent. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  23. ↑ "Rapid growth of the US wildland-urban interface raises wildfire risk". Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Wildfire, Wildlands, and People: Understanding and Preparing for Wildfire in the Wildland-Urban Interface" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  25. ↑ https://earther.gizmodo.com/we-re-building-millions-of-homes-in-the-line-of-wildfir-1823736981
  26. ↑ "California Air Quality". Air Now. August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Pleasant Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Moffat Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Nees Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Patterson Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Panoche Fire". CAL FIRE. June 7, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Apple Fire". InciWeb. June 13, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Airline Fire". CAL FIRE. June 14, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Apple Fire". CAL FIRE. June 14, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Chrome Fire". CAL FIRE. June 21, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Lions Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Lions Fire". CAL FIRE. June 26, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Planada Fire". CAL FIRE. June 21, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Yankee Fire". CAL FIRE. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Lane Fire". CAL FIRE. June 27, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Pawnee Fire". CAL FIRE. July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Creek Fire". CAL FIRE. July 4, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Waverly Fire". CAL FIRE. July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  44. ↑ "County Fire". CAL FIRE. July 14, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  45. ↑ "Klamathon Fire". CAL FIRE. July 14, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  46. ↑ Kellen Browning; Daniel Brown (July 6, 2018). "At least one dead as Klamathon Fire tops 9,600 acres, remains state of emergency". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Valley Fire Information". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. September 28, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  48. ↑ "Valley Fire". CAL FIRE. July 13, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  49. ↑ "Holiday Fire". CAL FIRE. July 13, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  50. ↑ Alexander Nguyen (July 7, 2018). "2 Fires Burning at Camp Pendleton; 750 Homes Evacuated". NBC Southern California. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  51. ↑ Brytani Wheeler (July 11, 2018). "3rd MAW supports firefighting operations at Camp Pendleton". Marines. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  52. ↑ "West Fire". CAL FIRE. July 11, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  53. ↑ "Georges Fire". CAL FIRE. September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  54. ↑ "Georges Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. August 24, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  55. ↑ "Ferguson Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. September 19, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  56. ↑ "Eagle Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. July 15, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  57. ↑ "Natchez Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. October 7, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  58. ↑ "Carr Fire". CAL FIRE. August 30, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  59. ↑ "Cranston Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  60. ↑ "Mendocino Complex Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". September 19, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  61. ↑ "River Fire". CAL FIRE. August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  62. ↑ Curtis Driscoll (July 28, 2018). "Cal Fire renames River and Ranch fires the Mendocino Complex Fire". Ukiah Daily Journal. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  63. ↑ "Whaleback Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. July 28, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  64. ↑ "Butte Fire". CAL FIRE. August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  65. ↑ "Donnell Fire: Incident information". InciWeb. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  66. ↑ "Tarina Fire". CAL FIRE. August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  67. ↑ "1,000-acre brush fire at Camp Pendleton fully contained". Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  68. ↑ "Turkey Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  69. ↑ Ruben Vives; Laura J. Nelson; Doug Smith (August 12, 2018). "Firefighters gain upper hand on 22,700-acre Holy fire in Cleveland National Forest, as containment rises to 41%". Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  70. ↑ "Holy Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  71. ↑ "Holy Fire". CAL FIRE. August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  72. ↑ "Holy Fire Reignites, Burns 150 Acres". CBS Los Angeles. August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  73. ↑ California, State of (August 8, 2018). "Five Fire General Information". cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  74. ↑ "Hirz Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  75. ↑ "Hat Fire". CAL FIRE. August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  76. ↑ "Nelson Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  77. ↑ "Stone Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. August 29, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  78. ↑ "Mill Creek 1 Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. August 30, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  79. ↑ "Front Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. August 29, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  80. ↑ "North Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  81. ↑ "Boot Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. September 15, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  82. ↑ "Kerlin Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  83. ↑ "Delta Fire". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. October 7, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  84. ↑ "Snell Fire". CAL FIRE. September 15, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  85. ↑ "Charlie Fire". CAL FIRE. September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  86. ↑ "Charlie Fire Incident Information". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  87. ↑ "Branscombe Fire". CAL FIRE. October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  88. ↑ Susan Hiland (October 9, 2018). "Branscombe Fire continues to burn through Suisun Marsh". Fairfield Daily Republic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  89. ↑ Ian Thompson (October 10, 2018). "Officials report Branscombe Fire fully contained". Fairfield Daily Republic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  90. ↑ "Sun Fire". CAL FIRE. October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  91. ↑ Gomez, Mark (June 5, 2018). "Three discovered dead in San Benito County wildfire". Mercury News. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  92. ↑ Larson, Amy (June 5, 2018). "Mother, baby, toddler killed in San Benito County wildfire". KSBW. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  93. ↑ "Carr Fire death toll climbs to six as crews 'gain some ground' against massive blaze". WashingtonPost. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  94. ↑ "7 missing as deadly California wildfire continues to grow". CNN. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  95. ↑ "Fire dept. rejects Verizon's "customer support mistake" excuse for throttling". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  96. ↑ "Verizon throttled fire department's "unlimited" data during Calif. wildfire". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
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