August 31, 2021
Today, over 14,300 firefighters remain on the frontlines of 15 major wildfires and one extended attack wildfire burning across California. Yesterday, crews continued their progress towards containment. Yesterday 46 new initial attack wildfires were sparked and extinguished quickly. The Caldor Fire grew to be the 17th largest fire in California and the Monument Fire has become the 20th largest fire in California history.
As of January 1, wildfires have burned more than 1.8 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.
Red Flag Warning is in effect through tonight from Modoc County, through the northern Sierra Nevada, past the Tahoe Basin and down to Mono County for gusty winds and low humidity. A Red Flag Warning will be in effect for the Northern Sierra Nevada through Wednesday evening. These winds combined with extremely dry fuels and low humidity will lead to critical fire weather conditions. New or existing wildfires will have the potential for rapid spread and growth under these conditions.
An unusually dry airmass will remain in place across northern California through the weekend with some improvements in far western areas due to slightly deeper & more impactful marine layer along portions of the coast. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will move across Southern California through Wednesday. Humidity will continue to increase through Thursday, when a warming and drying trend will drop humidity in inland areas.
CAL FIRE is urging all Californians to ensure they are prepared for wildfires by creating a wildfire preparedness action plan. Download CAL FIRE’s web-based app to create your custom plan at www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
Fires of Interest:
**CAL FIRE Incidents**
Airola Fire, Calaveras County (more info...) West of Columbia
*639 acres, 85% contained
*Evacuation warnings lifted
**Unified Command Fires**
Caldor Fire, El Dorado County (more info...)
South of Grizzly Flats – El Dorado National Forest
*191,607 acres, 16% contained
*17th largest fire in California history
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place, new evacuation orders issued *Over 35,000 structures threatened, 669 structures destroyed
*Damage inspection is ongoing
*Highway 50 closed from Sly Park to Meyers
*Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS
*CAL FIRE IMT 6 and NIMO Team 2 in command
Chaparral Fire, Riverside & San Diego County (more info...) Southwest of Murrieta – Cleveland National Forest
*1,427 acres, 50% 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
*807,396 acres, 48% contained
*Nearly 11,500 structures threatened
*2nd Largest and 14th Most Destructive Wildfire in state 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
*25,643 acres, 40% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place
*Unified Command CA Interagency IMT 12 and Kern County Fire *NIMO Team 1
Monument Fire, Trinity County (more info...) West of Big Bar – Shasta-Trinity National Forest *170,945 acres, 29% contained
*20th largest fire in California history
*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 Alaska IMT in command *CA IMT 1, Team 5 (Young) assigned
**Federal Incidents**
Antelope Fire, Siskiyou County (more info...) South of Tennant – Klamath National Forest *71,447 acres, 60% contained
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
*1,000 acres, 0% contained
*CA IMT 1, Team 5 (Young) will assume command at 0700 today *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, 90% contained
McCash Fire, Siskiyou County (more info...)
Ten Bear Mtn McCash Creek - Six Rivers National Forest *36,461 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, 95% contained
*CA IMT 11 in command
River Complex, Siskiyou & Trinity Counties (more info...) West of Callahan – Klamath National Forest
*106,132 acres, 23% 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...) North of Fontana – San Bernardino National Forest *819 acres, 65% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place
Tamarack Fire, Alpine County (more info...)
South of Gardnerville – Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Off Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass – San Bernardino National Forest *61 acres, 50% contained
Roadside Fire, San Bernardino County (more info...) Cajon Pass – San Bernardino National Forest
*50 acres, 60% contained
*68,637 acres, 82% contained
Walkers Fire, Tulare County (more info...) Northeast of Springville – Sequoia National Forest *8,108 acres, 52% contained
**Extended Attack Incidents**
Railroad Fire, San Bernardino County (more info...)
Washington Fire, Tuolumne County (more info...) West of Sonora
*100 acres, 75% contained
K-Rail, Humboldt County, (more info...) NEW *4 miles southeast of Hoopa
*30 acres, 35% contained
Forward spread has been stopped
