Today, over 15,300 firefighters remain on the frontlines of 16 major wildfires and five extended attack wildfires burning across California. As crews continued their progress towards containment, yesterday 20 new initial attack wildfires were sparked and extinguished quickly, however, over 57,500 structures remain under threat. The Caldor Fire is the 15th largest fire in California history and the Monument fire remains the 20th largest fire in California history.
As of January 1, wildfires have burned more than 1.9 million acres in California. While firefighters continue their battle on the current major wildfires, CAL FIRE and fire departments across the State remain prepared for potential more significant wildfires due to critical fire weather. The US Forest Service has temporarily closed all National Forests in California through September 17, 2021, to better provide for public and firefighter safety due to the ongoing wildfires.
Northern California will see high temperatures slightly below normal today but will warm to 5 to 10 degrees above normal through the weekend. Already low relative humidity will dry further in response with poor overnight humidity recoveries becoming increasingly widespread. Winds this afternoon and evening will be noticeably lighter compared to previous days but still locally breezy in some areas. Cooler temperatures will linger today in Central and Southern California. High pressure will strengthen and expand over the region Friday through Wednesday next week. Temperatures will significantly warm to around 10 degrees above normal over the weekend.
Californians need to take steps to prevent sparking a wildfire. To learn more ways to prevent sparking a wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
Fires of Interest:
**CAL FIRE Incidents**
Airola Fire, Calaveras County (more info...) West of Columbia
*639 acres, 89% contained
*Evacuation warnings lifted
**Unified Command Fires**
Caldor Fire, El Dorado and Amador Counties (more info...) South of Grizzly Flats – El Dorado National Forest
*210,259 acres, 25% contained
*15th largest fire in California history
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place, new evacuation orders issued *Over 32,000 structures threatened, 811 structures destroyed
*Damage inspection is ongoing
*Highway 50, Hwy 88, and Hwy 89 remain closed
*Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS
*CAL FIRE IMT 6, NIMO Team 2, and CA IMT 4 in command
Chaparral Fire, Riverside & San Diego Counties (more info...) Southwest of Murrieta – Cleveland National Forest
*1,427 acres, 79% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings in place
*Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS *CA IMT 14 in Command
Dixie Fire, Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Tehama & Shasta Counties (more info...) Feather River Canyon
*859,457 acres, 55% contained
*Over 12,700 structures threatened, 1,282 destroyed
*2nd Largest and 14th Most Destructive Wildfire in California history *Evacuation orders and warnings in place for multiple communities *Repopulation continues in some areas
*Damage assessment is ongoing
*Unified Command CAL FIRE, USFS, BLM, and National Park Service *CAL FIRE IMT 1 and Great Basin IMT 1 are in command
French Fire, Kern County (more info...)
West of Lake Isabella – Sequoia National Forest
*25,871 acres, 43% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place
*Unified Command USFS and Kern County Fire
*CA Interagency IMT 12 and NIMO Team 1 are in command
Monument Fire, Trinity County (more info...) West of Big Bar – Shasta-Trinity National Forest *176,579 acres, 29% contained
*20th largest fire in California history
*Over 10,500 structures threatened
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place *Repopulation ongoing where safe to do so *Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS
*CAL FIRE IMT 5 and CA IMT Team 5 in command
**Federal Incidents**
Antelope Fire, Siskiyou County (more info...) South of Tennant – Klamath National Forest *71,501 acres, 73% contained
*Southern Area IMT 1, Red Team in command
Beckwourth Complex, Lassen/Plumas Counties (more info...) Northeast of Beckwourth – Plumas National Forest
*105,670 acres, 98% contained
Knob, Humboldt County (more info...)
2 Miles south of Willow Creek, Six Rivers National Forest *2,066 acres, 34% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place
Lava Fire, Siskiyou County (more info...)
Northeast of the community of Weed - Shasta-Trinity National Forest *26,409 acres, 95% contained
McCash Fire, Siskiyou County (more info...)
Ten Bear Mtn McCash Creek - Six Rivers National Forest *44,977 acres, 1% contained
*Great Basin IMT 3 is in command
McFarland Fire, Shasta, Trinity & Tehama Counties (more info...) West of Platina – Shasta-Trinity National Forest
*122,653 acres, 98% contained
*CA IMT 11 in command
River Complex, Siskiyou & Trinity Counties (more info...) West of Callahan – Klamath National Forest
*114,359 acres, 14% contained
*Complex is comprised of 23 fires; 16 fires contained *Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place
*NIMO Team 3 and CA IMT 13 in command
South Fire, San Bernardino County (more info...) FINAL North of Fontana – San Bernardino National Forest
*819 acres, 100% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place
Tamarack Fire, Alpine County (more info...)
South of Gardnerville – Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
*68,637 acres, 82% contained
Walkers Fire, Tulare County (more info...) Northeast of Springville – Sequoia National Forest *8,304 acres, 52% contained
**Extended Attack Incidents**
K-Rail, Humboldt County, (more info...) *4 miles southeast of Hoopa
*16 acres, 35% contained
*Forward spread has been stopped
Lassen, Marin County NEW Lucas Valley - Marinwood *44 acres, 90% contained
Railroad Fire, San Bernardino County (more info...)
Off Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass – San Bernardino National Forest *61 acres, 95% contained
Roadside Fire, San Bernardino County (more info...) FINAL Cajon Pass – San Bernardino National Forest
*50 acres, 100% contained
Washington Fire, Tuolumne County (more info...) FINAL West of Sonora
*100 acres, 100% contained
