2024 California wildfires

2024 California wildfires
The burn scar of the Corral Fire in San Joaquin County, seen via the Landsat 9 satellite on June 2, 2024
Statistics[1]
Total fires2,654
Total area112,801 acres (45,649 ha)
Impacts
Deaths0[1]
Non-fatal injuries3
Structures destroyed26 (24 damaged)[1]
Season
← 2023

The 2024 California wildfire season is an ongoing series of wildfires that have been burning throughout the U.S. state of California. As of June 26, 2024, a total of 2,654 wildfires have burned a cumulative 112,801 acres (45,649 ha). Year-to-date, the number of wildfires is above the five-year average; the number of acres burned is also above it.[2] Wildfires have destroyed 26 structures in the state in 2024.[3]

Background[edit]

The timing of "fire season" in California is variable, depending on the amount of prior winter and spring precipitation, the frequency and severity of weather such as heat waves and wind events, and moisture content in vegetation. Northern California typically sees wildfire activity between late spring and early fall, peaking in the summer with hotter and drier conditions. Occasional cold frontal passages can bring wind and lightning. The timing of fire season in Southern California is similar, peaking between late spring and fall. The severity and duration of peak activity in either part of the state is modulated in part by weather events: downslope/offshore wind events can lead to critical fire weather, while onshore flow and Pacific weather systems can bring conditions that hamper wildfire growth.[4][5]

Narrative[edit]

By the end of spring (June 20), the total area burned by wildfires in California was nearly 90,000 acres (36,000 ha). This early spike in activity was primarily from wind-driven grass fires, more than 30 of which occurred on several days in mid-June with low humidity, high temperatures, and strong winds.[5]

List of wildfires[edit]

The following is a list of fires that have burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Notes Ref
School Kern 1,479 May 2 May 3 [6]
Hill Santa Barbara 1,383 May 28 June 1 [7]
Firebaugh Madera 1,300 May 30 May 30 [8]
Corral San Joaquin 14,168 June 1 June 6 Destroyed one home and injured two firefighters. Prompted highway closures and evacuation orders near Tracy. [9][10]
West Kern 1,575 June 2 June 6 [11]
Road Kern 1,088 June 4 June 6 [12]
Lost Kern 3,600 June 6 June 11 [13]
Bear San Luis Obispo 1,410 June 12 June 14 [14]
Junes Butte 1,056 June 15 June 18 Destroyed one structure. [15]
Post Los Angeles, Ventura 15,563 June 15 June 26 Began near Gorman, burned parallel to Interstate 5; caused the evacuation of ~1,200 people in nearby recreation areas. Destroyed one structure, injured one person. [16][17]
Hesperia San Bernardino 1,078 June 15 June 24 [18]
Point Sonoma 1,207 June 16 June 24 Prompted evacuations of some 400 residents northwest of Dry Creek Valley. Caused one injury and destroyed three structures. [19]
Sites Colusa 19,195 June 17 June 25 [20][21]
Aero Calaveras 5,285 June 17 June 27 Caused evacuations in both Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, damaged one structure and destroyed three. [22][23]
Needles San Bernardino, Mohave (AZ) 203 June 22 June 26 Burned on both sides of the Colorado River in Arizona and California. Burned 60 acres in California and destroyed one structure. Burned 143 acres in Arizona and prompted evacuations in both states. [24]
Apache Butte 691 June 24
80% contained
 Prompted evacuations in Butte County. A firefighter has been injured, and the fire has destroyed two structures. [25]
Fresno June Lightning Complex Fresno 10,669 June 24
37% contained
 Consists of the Flash, Bolt, Hog, and other fires. Ignited by lightning. [26]
Basin Fresno 5,692 June 26
0% contained
 Prompting evacuations in the Kirch Flat Campground and Balch Camp area. [27][28]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Current Emergency Incidents". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  2. ^ "Statistics". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "2024 Incident Archive". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  4. ^ "Weather: Fire Season Climatology (Northern California)". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Toohey, Grace (June 22, 2024). "California wildfires have already burned 90,000 acres, and summer is just beginning". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  6. ^ "School Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "Hill Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  8. ^ "Firebaugh Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  9. ^ "Corral Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  10. ^ "Containment on Corral Fire increases; evacuations lifted after more than 14,000 acres burned". CBS News. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  11. ^ "West Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  12. ^ "Road Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  13. ^ "Lost Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  14. ^ "Bear Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  15. ^ "Junes Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  16. ^ "Post Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  17. ^ Curwen, Thomas (June 16, 2024). "Post fire near Gorman burns 11,000 acres, prompts evacuations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  18. ^ "Hesperia Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  19. ^ "Point Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  20. ^ "Sites Fire". Watch Duty. Watch Duty. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  21. ^ "Sites Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  22. ^ "Aero Fire". Watch Duty. Watch Duty. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  23. ^ "Aero Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  24. ^ "Needles Fire". Watch Duty. Watch Duty. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  25. ^ "Apache Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  26. ^ "Fresno June Lightning Complex". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  27. ^ "Basin Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  28. ^ "Basin Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
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