CA Fires Latest: Heat Returns To The Golden State; 4M Acres Burn

CALIFORNIA — More than 13,400 firefighters were working to suppress 21 major wildfires across the Golden State Sunday as temperatures remained cool, allowing crews to gain more than 95 percent containment over most fires. Last weekend, thousands more firefighters were scrapping to gain the upper hand on these fires amid scorching temperatures.

But temperatures were expected to rise gradually beginning Sunday, increasing the fire potential in California once again.

"A return to dry and warm conditions begins today as high pressure strengthens across the state," Cal Fire officials said Sunday. "In some areas in Southern California, temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees above normal early in the week. Breezy conditions accompanying this weather pattern will increase fire danger statewide."

Many of the fires that devastated California communities just weeks ago were not expected to grow any larger, Cal Fire officials said Saturday, but these fires won't be fully extinguished until the state sees some rainfall.

SEE ALSO: Police Arrest Two In Connection To Firefighter's Disappearance

In the California's worst ever fire season, several records were smashed as more than 4 million acres have burned in 2020, more than double the amount of any other fire season. The August Complex also surpassed 1 million acres last weekend, becoming the largest single wildfire in state history.

The August Complex has now burned 1,028,529 acres and was 74 percent contained Sunday.

During this catastrophic fire year, more than 9,200 structures have been destroyed across the state, and 31 people have died.

A dry landscape, combined with persistent and historically high temperatures this year, have kept the state in an extended fire season. California may be in for a dry winter as La Nina conditions have been forecast, which could keep the state in a relatively warm and arid weather pattern.

California's largest-ever fire season may not be over until November.

Captain Cal update: this bright and feisty orphaned mountain lion rescued from the #ZoggFire still has a long road to recovery.

Daily, our Vet Hospital staff changes the bandages on his feet.

1/ pic.twitter.com/mDEoQbJctt
— Oakland Zoo (@oakzoo) October 8, 2020

The devastating Glass Fire, burning in Napa and Sonoma counties, has consumed more than 1,545 structures. It has burned 67,484 acres is now contained by 90 percent.

The fire has also destroyed historic landmarks and famed wineries along Silverado Trail, nestled within Napa Valley.

A 120-year-old home at Tofaneli Vineyard and the 41-year-old Chateau Boswell Winery were lost to the flames last week.

The Glass Fire has consumed countless homes, sending tens of thousands fleeing from their communities in Napa and Sonoma counties throughout the week. Fortunately, no new evacuation orders have been issued since Thursday, with some evacuation orders reduced to warnings in areas of Sonoma County and parts of Santa Rosa.

The entire city of Calistoga was evacuated a week ago as incoming flames threatened to engulf the city. More than 5,000 people in Calistoga were forced to flee.

Although no cause has been determined for the Zogg and Glass fires, a dry heat wave is largely to blame.

SEE ALSO: Oakland Zoo Treats Mountain Lion Cub Badly Burned In Zogg Fire

This historic fire year points to what Cal Fire, environmental scientists and some politicians have been warning all along: climate change.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly urged constituents and fellow politicians in his daily news briefings to look at the data behind rising temperatures in California and how temperatures have contributed to the growth of fire seasons over the years.

"Data and science are not beliefs," Newsom said during a mid-September news conference. "You have to acknowledge facts."

In 2020 alone, some 8,400 fires have incinerated 4 million acres.

And since Aug. 15, when a series of unseasonal dry lightning storms ignited dozens of major fires, the state has been breaking records for acres burned at a rapid pace.

Cal Fire offers a website to help people prepare for and prevent wildfires. Ready For Wildfires can be accessed here.

READ MORE: SEE ALSO: Wildfire Smoke Could Affect Pregnant Women Disproportionately

As fire season rages on, new records continue to be set.

Cal Fire says these new records have been recorded this season:

• 5 of the Top 20 largest wildfires in California History have occurred in 2020.
• Largest Wildfires - #1 August Complex, #3 SCU Lightning Complex, #4 LNU Lightning Complex, #5 North Complex, and #6 Creek Fire.
• Most Destructive - #5 North Complex, #10 LNU Lightning Complex, #11 CZU Lightning Complex, and #17 Creek Fire.
• Deadliest Wildfires - #5 North Complex and #20 LNU Lightning Complex.

SEE ALSO: Bobcat Fire: 92% Containment; All Evacuation Orders Lifted

Here's more on some of the major fires burning as of Sunday, via Cal Fire:

**CALFIRE Incidents**

Zogg Fire, Shasta County (more info…)
Southwest of Redding
*56,338 acres, 97% contained
*4 Fatalities
*204 structures destroyed.

Butte/Tehama/Glenn (BTU/TGU) Lightning Complex, multiple Counties (more info…)
Butte, Tehama and Glenn Counties
*19,609 acres, 97% contained
*14 structures destroyed
*While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing.
**Unified Command Incidents**

Glass Fire, Napa and Sonoma County (more info…)
4 miles east of Calistoga
*67,484 acres, 90% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings in place
*1,555 structures destroyed
*CAL FIRE Team 3 in command.

Creek Fire, Fresno County (more info…)
Northeast of Shaver Lake (Sierra National Forest)
*333,480 acres, 55% contained
*Evacuations in place
*Heavy tree mortality in the area
*856 structures destroyed
*Northern Rockies Team 4 is in command of the North Zone and California Interagency Incident Command Team 5 is in command of the South Zone.

SQF Complex, Tulare County (more info…)
3 miles east of Giant Sequoia National Monument
*167,846 acres, 65% contained
*Evacuation order and warnings remain in place
*232 structures destroyed
*California Interagency Incident Management Team 13 in unified command with CAL FIRE.
**Coordinated Command Incidents**

August Complex, Tehama County (more info…)
Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Tehama and Trinity Counties
Elk Creek and Stonyford area (Mendocino National Forest)
*1,028,529 acres, 74% contained
*South Zone 548,286 acres
*North East Zone 269,938 acres
*North West Zone 69,903 acres
*West Zone 140,402 acres
*1 fatality
*210 structures destroyed
*Includes multiple fires including the Elkhorn, Hopkins, Willow, Vinegar, and Doe fires
*The fire is being managed in four zones by 3 national Incident Management Team and CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 5.
**Federal Incidents**

North Complex, Plumas County (more info…)
Northeast of Oroville to southwest of Quincy (Plumas National Forest)
*318,930 acres, 91% contained
*15 fatalities
*2,342 structures destroyed.

Slater Fire, Siskiyou County, (more info…)
5 miles North of Happy Camp (Klamath National Forest)
*156,392 acres, 72% contained
*2 fatalities.

Devil Fire, Siskiyou County, (more info…)
5 miles north of Upper Devil’s Peak (Klamath National Forest)
*8,848 acres, 38% contained.

Bobcat Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
North of Duarte (Angeles National Forest)
*115,796 acres, 92% containment.

El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…)
West of Oak Glen (San Bernardino National Forest)
*22,744 acres, 95% contained
*1 fatality.

Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
Hwy 1, 10 miles south of Big Sur (Los Padres National Forest)
*124,924 acres, 98% contained.

Bullfrog Fire, Fresno County (more info…)
SE of Bullfrog Lake (Sierra National Forest)
*1,185 acres, 60% contained.

Fork Fire, El Dorado County, (more info…)
15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines (El Dorado National Forest)
*1,667 acres, 70% contained.

Apple Fire, Riverside County (more info…)
Oak Glen/Cherry Valley (San Bernardino National Forest)
*33,424 acres, 95% contained.

Red Salmon Complex – Humboldt County (more info…)
14 miles northeast of Willow Creek (Shasta-Trinity National Forest)
*141,129 acres, 40% contained.

Blue Jay Fire, Mariposa County (more info…)
Yosemite National Park Wilderness
*6,441 acres, 50% contained.

Wolf Fire, Tuolumne County (more info…)
Yosemite National Park Wilderness
*1,818 acres, 60% contained.

Slink Fire, Mono County (more info…)
2 miles west of Coleville (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest)
*26,759 acres, 90% contained.

Moraine, Tulare County (more info…)
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness
*694 acres, 70% contained.

Rattlesnake, Tulare County (more info…)
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness
*5,767 acres, 30% contained.