2016 California wildfires

Last updated

2016 California wildfires
SherpaFireSkyCraneDrop.jpg
A Skycrane makes a drop on the Sherpa Fire in June.
Statistics [1]
Total fires7,349
Total area669,534 acres (2,709.51 km2) [2]
Impacts
Deaths6 civilians killed, 2 firefighters killed [2]
Non-fatal injuriesUnknown
Damage>$480.3 million (2016 USD) [3] [2]
Map
2016 California wildfires map.png
A map of wildfires in California in 2016, using Cal Fire data
Season
←  2015
2017  →

In 2016, a total of 7,349 fires had burned an area 669,534 acres (2,709.51 km2) in California, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. [1] [2]

Contents

Climatologists had predicted an extreme version of El Niño, known as a Super El Niño, to occur during the winter of 2015–16. Although the Pacific Ocean’s warming water had been expected to bring strong storms to parts of the southwestern United States, actual precipitation totals generally underperformed those expectations. [4] Early in 2016, The National Interagency Fire Center predicted that conditions from May through at least August would put much of the western United States in above-normal wildfire danger. [5]

Events

In June, the United States Forest Service estimated that over 26 million trees had died across 760,000 acres (310,000 ha) in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This brought the number of dead trees to over 66 million during the past four years of drought. [6]

On August 15, the National Interagency Fire Center showed the state leading the nation in the quantity, size and intensity of wildfires. [6] A day later, on August 16, San Bernardino County announced that nearly 85,000 people were evacuated because of the Blue Cut Fire near Cajon Pass. [7] Authorities arrested a 40-year-old man in connection to the Clayton Fire, and charged him with 17 counts of arson. [6]

Fires

Below is a list of all fires that exceeded 1,000 acres (400 ha) during the 2016 California wildfire season, as well as the fires that caused significant damage. [8] The information is taken from CAL FIRE's list of large fires, and other sources where indicated.

NameCountyAcresStart DateContainment DateNotesRef
Roberts San Luis Obispo 3,712May 18, 2016May 20, 2016 [9]
Metz Monterey 3,876May 22, 2016May 25, 2016 [10]
Coleman Monterey 2,520June 4, 2016June 17, 2016 [11]
Pony Siskiyou 2,860June 7, 2016June 30, 2016 [12]
Sherpa Santa Barbara 7,474June 15, 2016July 12, 2016 [13]
Border San Diego 7,609June 19, 2016June 30, 20162 fatalities, 5 homes and 11 outbuildings destroyed [14]
Pine Ventura 2,304June 19, 2016July 17, 2016 [15]
San Gabriel Complex Los Angeles 5,399June 20, 2016July 23, 2016Reservoir Fire burned 1,146 acres; Fish Fire burned 4,253 acres [16]
Erskine Kern 48,019June 23, 2016July 12, 20162 fatalities, 285 homes destroyed, 12 damaged [17]
Trailhead Placer 5,646June 28, 2016July 18, 2016 [18]
Deer Kern 1,785July 1, 2016July 11, 2016 [19]
Curry Fresno 2,944July 1, 2016July 5, 2016 [20]
Sage Los Angeles 1,109July 9, 2016July 16, 2016 [21]
Roblar San Diego 1,245July 21, 2016July 30, 2016 [22]
Sand Los Angeles 41,432July 22, 2016August 3, 20162 fatalities, 18 homes destroyed, 4 damaged [23] [24]
Soberanes Monterey 132,100July 22, 2016October 12, 20161 fatality, 3 injuries, 57 homes and 11 outbuildings destroyed. [25]
Goose Fresno 2,241July 30, 2016August 9, 20164 homes, 5 outbuildings destroyed [26]
Cold Yolo 5,731August 2, 2016August 12, 20162 outbuildings destroyed [27]
Pilot San Bernardino 8,110August 7, 2016August 16, 2016 [28]
Mineral Fresno 7,050August 9, 2016August 18, 20162 structures destroyed [29]
Chimney San Luis Obispo 46,344August 13, 2016September 6, 201648 structures destroyed [30]
Clayton Lake 3,929August 13, 2016August 26, 2016300 buildings destroyed [31]
Blue Cut San Bernardino 36,274August 16, 2016August 23, 2016105 homes, 213 outbuildings destroyed [32]
Cedar Kern 29,322August 16, 2016September 30, 2016 [33]
Rey Santa Barbara 32,606August 18, 2016September 16, 2016 [34]
Gap Siskiyou 33,867August 27, 2016September 17, 2016 [35]
Bogart Riverside 1,470August 30, 2016September 2, 20161 outbuilding destroyed [36]
Willard Lassen 2,575September 11, 2016September 22, 20165 structures destroyed [37]
Owens River Mono 5,443September 17, 2016October 15, 2016 [38]
Canyon Santa Barbara 12,518September 17, 2016September 24, 20161 firefighter killed in crash [39]
Sawmill Sonoma 1,547September 25, 2016September 29, 2016 [40]
Marshes Tuolumne 1,080September 26, 2016October 4, 2016Burned just north of the Don Pedro Reservoir in the Stanislaus National Forest. [41] Approximately 30 homes were evacuated and two minor injuries were reported. [42] The fire briefly threatened the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System headquarters, but normal water operations continued throughout the fire. [43] The fire was started by a vehicle parked in dry grass along Marshes Flat Road. [44] [45]
Loma Santa Clara 4,474September 26, 2016October 12, 201628 structures destroyed [46]

See also

Related Research Articles

InciWeb is an interagency all-risk incident web information management system provided by the United States Forest Service released in 2004. It was originally developed for wildland fire emergencies, but can be also used for other emergency incidents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 California wildfires</span>

9,907 wildfires burned at least 601,625 acres (2,434.69 km2) of land in the state of California during 2013. The wildfires injured at least 125 people and killed at least 1. They also caused over $218.15 million in damage. These included several large, notable wildfires, including the Rim Fire, which became California's 3rd largest wildfire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Colorado wildfires</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rush Fire</span> 2012 wildfire in California and Nevada

The Rush Fire was the largest wildfire of the 2012 California wildfire season. The fire, which started in Lassen County, California, eventually spread into Washoe County, Nevada. The fire consumed a total of 315,577 acres of sagebrush, of which 271,991 acres were in California. At the time, the burn area in California made the Rush Fire the second-largest wildfire in California since 1932. In December 2017, the Thomas Fire surpassed the Rush Fire to become the second-largest wildfire in modern California history, in terms of the area burned in California. In mid-August 2018, the Ranch Fire in the Mendocino Complex Fire surpassed the total acreage of the Rush Fire in both California and Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 California wildfires</span>

The 2015 California wildfire season was a series of wildfires that burned across the state of California. By the end of 2015 a total of 8,745 fires were recorded, burning 893,362 acres (3,615 km2) across the state. Approximately 3,159 structures were damaged or destroyed by wildfires, and at least 7 fatalities were recorded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 California wildfires</span>

In terms of property damage, 2017 was the most destructive wildfire season on record in California at the time, surpassed by only the 2018 season and the 2020 season, with a total of 9,560 fires burning 1,548,429 acres (6,266.27 km2) of land, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, including five of the 20 most destructive wildland-urban interface fires in the state's history. Throughout 2017, the fires destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 structures in the state, a higher tally than the previous nine years combined. State data showed that the large wildfires killed 47 people – 45 civilians and 2 firefighters – almost higher than the previous 10 years combined. The total property damage and total amount of burned land were both surpassed by the 2018 California wildfires.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mendocino Complex Fire</span> 2018 wildfire in Northern California

The Mendocino Complex Fire was a large complex of wildfires that burned in northern California for more than three months in 2018. It consisted of two wildfires, the River Fire and Ranch Fire, which burned in Mendocino, Lake, Colusa, and Glenn Counties in the U.S. State of California, with the Ranch Fire being California's single-largest recorded wildfire at the time until the Dixie Fire in 2021. The Ranch Fire burned eight miles northeast of Ukiah, and the River Fire burned six miles north of Hopland, to the south of the larger Ranch Fire. First reported on July 27, 2018, both fires burned a combined total of 459,123 acres (1,858 km2), before they were collectively 100% contained on September 18, though hotspots persisted until the complex was fully brought under control on January 4, 2019. The Ranch Fire alone burned 410,203 acres (1,660 km2), making it the largest wildfire in modern California history at the time until the August Complex fire that occurred in 2020. The Ranch Fire also surpassed the size of the 315,577-acre Rush Fire, which burned across California and Nevada, as well as the Santiago Canyon Fire of 1889, which was previously believed to have been California's all-time largest wildfire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delta Fire</span> 2018 wildfire in Northern California

The Delta Fire was a 2018 wildfire that burned near Lakehead, California, in the Shasta National Forest. The fire burned 63,311 acres (256 km2) and destroyed 20 structures, before it was 100% contained on October 7, 2018. The fire burned into the western flank of the nearby Hirz Fire on September 10, and also burned only a couple of miles away from the enormous Carr Fire, the seventh-most destructive fire in Californian history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 California wildfires</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 California wildfires</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loyalton Fire</span> 2020 wildfire in California and Nevada

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Complex Fire</span> 2020 wildfire in Northern California

The North Complex Fire was a massive wildfire complex that burned in the Plumas National Forest in Northern California in the counties of Plumas and Butte. 21 fires were started by lightning on August 17, 2020; by September 5, all the individual fires had been put out with the exception of the Claremont and Bear Fires, which merged on that date, and the Sheep Fire, which was then designated a separate incident. On September 8, strong winds caused the Bear/Claremont Fire to explode in size, rapidly spreading to the southwest. On September 8, 2020, the towns of Berry Creek and Feather Falls were immediately evacuated at 3:15 p.m. PDT with no prior warning. By September 9, 2020, the towns of Berry Creek and Feather Falls had been leveled, with few homes left standing. The fire threatened the city of Oroville, before its westward spread was stopped. The fire killed 16 people and injured more than 100. Among the 16 fatalities was a 16-year-old boy. The complex burned an estimated 318,935 acres (129,068 ha), and was 100% contained on December 3. The fire was managed by the U.S. Forest Service in conjunction with Cal Fire, with the primary incident base in Quincy. The North Complex Fire was the sixth-largest in California's modern history, and the deadliest fire in the 2020 California wildfire season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Western United States wildfire season</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Lassen County wildfires</span> 2020 wildfire sub-season that burned in Lassen County

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 California wildfires</span>

The 2021 California wildfire season was a series of wildfires that burned across the U.S. state of California. By the end of 2021 a total of 8,835 fires were recorded, burning 2,568,948 acres (1,039,616 ha) across the state. Approximately 3,629 structures were damaged or destroyed by the wildfires, and at least seven firefighters and two civilians were injured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Arizona wildfires</span> Wildfires in Arizona during spring and summer 2021

The 2021 Arizona wildfire season was a series of wildfires that burned across the state of Arizona, United States. Wildfires across the state burned 524,428 acres (212,228 ha) of land in at least 1,773 fires throughout the state, fueled in part by a drought, hot temperatures, and thunderstorms producing dry lightning. At one point in late June, over 20 active wildfires were burning across the state.

The 2021 New Mexico wildfire season began in February 7, 2021. As of July 7, there have been at least 363 fires across the state that have burned at least 121,277 acres (49,079 ha).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 California wildfires</span>

The 2022 California wildfire season was a series of wildfires throughout the U.S. state of California. By the end of the year, a total of 7,667 fires had been recorded, totaling approximately 363,939 acres across the state. Wildfires killed nine people in California in 2022, destroyed 772 structures, and damaged another 104. The 2022 season followed the 2020 and 2021 California wildfire seasons, which had the highest and second-highest (respectively) numbers of acres burned in the historical record, with a sharp drop in acreage burned.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2016" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center . Archived from the original (PDF) on July 7, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ken Pimlott (2017). "2016 Wildfire Activity Statistics" (PDF). CAL FIRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  3. ↑ Gilpin, Lyndsey (October 5, 2016). "The Most Expensive Wildfires in US History". High Country News. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  4. ↑ Blankenbuehler, Paige (June 22, 2016). "El Niño adds fuel to Southwestern fires". The Journal. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  5. ↑ Grenoble, Ryan (May 2, 2016). "Here's Where The 2016 Wildfire Season Risk Is The Highest". The Huffington Post. The Huffington Post . Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Fears, Darryl (August 16, 2016). "California is in flames right now, with fires fueled by historic drought". The Washington Post . Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  7. ↑ "More than 82,000 people flee Southern California wildfire". Chicago Tribune. August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Large Fires 2016" (PDF). CAL FIRE . March 29, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Roberts Fire". CAL FIRE . Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Metz Fire". CAL FIRE . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Coleman Fire". InciWeb . Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Pony Fire". InciWeb . Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Sherpa Fire". InciWeb . Archived from the original on June 26, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Border Fire". CAL FIRE . Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Pine Fire". Inciweb . Archived from the original on September 3, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  16. ↑ "San Gabriel Complex". InciWeb . Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Erskine Fire". InciWeb . Archived from the original on June 29, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Trailhead Fire Updates". CAL FIRE Incident Information. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Deer Fire Updates". CAL FIRE Incident Information. CAL FIRE . Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Curry Fire Updates". CAL FIRE Incident Information. CAL FIRE . Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Sage Fire". CAL FIRE . Archived from the original on July 16, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Roblar Fire". CAL FIRE . Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  23. ↑ Carr, Ada & Wright, Pam (July 24, 2016). "Body Found As Firefighters Continue to Battle 'Sand Fire' Near Los Angeles; 18 Homes Destroyed". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on July 25, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Sand Fire". Inciweb . Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Soberanes Fire". InciWeb . Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Goose Fire Updates". CAL FIRE Incident Information. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Cold Fire". CAL FIRE . Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Pilot Fire". InciWeb . Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Mineral Fire". CAL FIRE . Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  30. ↑ "ChimneyFire". CAL FIRE . Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Clayton Fire". August 15, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Blue Cut Fire". InciWeb . Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Cedar Fire". InciWeb . Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Rey Fire". InciWeb . Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Gap Fire". InciWeb . Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Bogart Fire". CAL FIRE . Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Willard Fire". InciWeb . Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Owens River Fire". InciWeb . Archived from the original on September 22, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Canyon Fire" (PDF). Vandenberg Air Force Base . Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Sawmill Fire". CAL FIRE . Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Marshes Fire". CALFIRE . Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  42. ↑ "Marshes Fire in Sonoma County Fully Contained: Cal Fire". NBC Bay Area. NBC Bay Area. September 29, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  43. ↑ McCarthy, Guy (September 29, 2016). "Marshes Fire cost $2.5 million so far". The Union Democrat . Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  44. ↑ Cowan, Jason (September 28, 2016). "Cal Fire releases cause of Marshes Fire". The Union Democrat . Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  45. ↑ "Marshes Fire". CAL FIRE . Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  46. ↑ "Loma Fire". CAL FIRE . Archived from the original on September 28, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
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