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California Statewide Fire SummarySeptember 20, 2020

9/20/2020

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Containment continues to increase thanks to the efforts of firefighters on 27 major wildfires in California, as well as one extended attack wildfire. With nearly 19,000 firefighters on the front lines, crews continue to gain ground on these fires, as well as responding to 25 initial attack wildfires across the State, all of which were contained quickly.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been over 7,900 wildfires that have burned over 3.5 million acres in California. Since August 15, when California’s fire activity elevated, there have been 26 fatalities and over 6,100 structures destroyed.

Breezy conditions in the Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles Mountains and Antelope Valley continue today, contributing to poor humidity recovery.  Warm conditions remain through most of California, and will continue into the week.  An upper ridge of high pressure is expected to bring warmer and dry conditions to Southern California with a chance of wind events starting mid-week.
 
California historically experiences some of the most devastating wildfires in the months of September and October.  Do not let your guard down!  To learn more ways to prevent sparking a wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.  


Fires of Interest:

**CALFIRE Incidents**
LNU Lightning Complex, multiple North Bay counties (more info…)
Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Colusa, Solano, and Yolo Counties
*363,220 acres, 98% contained
*While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing.
 
SCU Lightning Complex, multiple Easy Bay counties (more info…)
Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara San Joaquin, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties
*396,624 acres, 98% contained
*While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing.
 
CZU Lightning Complex, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties (more info…)
*86,509 acres, 99% contained
*Multiple fires
*1,490 structures destroyed
*1 fatality

**Unified Command Incidents**
Snow Fire, Riverside County (more info…)
Snow Creek Rd, west of Palm Springs
*6,013 acres, 20% contained
*Repopulation has started
*Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS
 
North Complex, Plumas County (more info…)
Southwest of Susanville (Plumas National Forest)
*291,200 acres, 62% contained
*15 fatalities
*1,561 Structures destroyed
*Evacuations in place
*Includes the Bear and Claremont Fire
*CAL FIRE Team 4 is in unified command with US Forest Service IMT Team 4

Creek Fire, Fresno County (more info…)
Northeast of Shaver Lake (Sierra National Forest)
*278,368 acres, 25% contained
*Evacuations in effect
*Heavy tree mortality in the area
*843 structures destroyed
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 in unified command with USFS Great Basin Team 1

El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…)
West of Oak Glen (San Bernardino National Forest)
*24,489 acres, 59% contained
*One fatality
*Evacuations in place
*10 structures destroyed
*California Interagency Incident Management Team 11 in unified command with CAL FIRE, Yucaipa Fire Department and San Bernardino County Fire Department

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.
 
SQF Complex, Tulare County (more info…)
25 miles north of Kernville (Sequoia National Forest)
*135,802 acres, 14% contained
*Castle and Shotgun Fires merged into this complex
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6 in unified command with USFS Team 2

**Coordinated Command Incidents**
August Complex, Tehama County (more info…)
Elk Creek and Stonyford area (Mendocino National Forest)
*836,871 acres 30% contained
*South Zone 485,591 acres, 40% contained
*North Zone 259,850 acres, 22% contained
*West Zone 91,430 acres, 15% contained
*Decreased acreage due to mapping by USFS
*1 fatality
*Includes multiple fires including the Elkhorn, Hopkins, Willow, Vinegar, and Doe fires
*A California Interagency Incident Management Team and Great Basin Team in command
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 3 & 5 are deployed on the West Zone of the complex.

**Federal Incidents**
Fox Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) 
*1,850 acres, 17% contained
*Evacuations in place
 
Slater Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…)
5 miles North of Happy Camp (Klamath National Forest)
*146,689 acres, 18% contained
*2 fatalities
*Evacuation orders in place
 
Devil Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…)
5 miles north of Upper Devil’s Peak (Klamath National Forest)
*7,144 acres, 7% contained

Bobcat Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
North of Duarte (Angeles National Forest)
*99,428 acres, 15% containment
*Evacuations in place
 
Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
Hwy 1, 10 miles south of Big Sur (Los Padres National Forest)
*128,050 acres, 46% contained
*Structures threatened
*Type 1 NW Team 2 (Allen) in command

Bullfrog Fire, Fresno County (more info…)
SE of Bullfrog Lake (Sierra National Forest)
*900 acres, 15% contained

Fork Fire, El Dorado County, (more info…)
15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines (El Dorado National Forest)
*1,752 acres, 61% contained

Valley Fire, San Diego County (more info…)
Near Alpine (Cleveland National Forest)
*17,093 acres, 95% contained
*CAIIMT 15 in command
 
Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
Southwest of Lake Hughes
Angeles National Forest / Los Angeles County Fire Department
* 31,089 acres, 96% 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)
*102.426 acres, 20% contained        

Blue Jay Fire, Mariposa County (more info…)
Yosemite National Park Wilderness
*4,427 acres, 40% contained

Wolf Fire, Tuolumne County (more info…)
Yosemite National Park Wilderness
*1,032 acres, 25% contained

Woodward Fire, Marin County (more info…)
3 miles southwest of Olema (Point Reyes National Seashore)
*4,929 acres, 97% contained
 
Slink Fire, Mono County (more info…)
2 miles west of Coleville (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest)
*26,752 acres, 84% contained

Moraine, Tulare County (more info…)
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness
*575 acres, 70% contained
 
Rattlesnake, Tulare County (more info…)
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness 
*2,078 acres, 0% contained

**Extended Attack Wildfires**
(These are wildfires that go beyond the initial attack, but are not major incidents.)

Shackleford Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) 
Southwest of Quartz Valley Reservation
*50 acres, 96% contained
 
Top 20 Wildfire Records
  • 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 #7 Creek Fire.
  • Most Destructive - #9 North Complex, #10 LNU Lightning Complex, #11 CZU Lightning Complex, and #17 Creek Fire.
  • Deadliest Wildfires - #5 North Complex and #20 LNU Lightning Complex






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Senator Feinstein’s Wildfire Legislation

9/20/2020

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On Wednesday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing that included Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020 (S. 4431). The bipartisan bill, introduced by Senator Feinstein and Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana), would help protect communities from catastrophic wildfires by implementing wildfire mitigation projects, sustaining healthier forests that are more resilient to climate change and providing important energy and retrofitting assistance to businesses and residences to mitigate future risks from wildfire. During the Committee hearing, Senator Daines stressed the importance of passing the bill, stating “we are at a critical time. The West is burning. People are dying. And our way of life as we know it is in danger… My bill with Senator Feinstein offers 53 pages worth of solutions." Senator Daines also thanked first responders, law enforcement, fire officials and more for their work battling the fires across the West, and he held a moment of silence for those who lost their lives because of the fires. RCRC has indicated its strong support for Senator Feinstein’s legislation. The RCRC support letter can be viewed here.
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EMERGENCY FIRE RESTRICTIONS

9/20/2020

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September 18, 2020NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SIERRA ORDAINS that:

Sierra County Code, Title 8, Health and Sanitation, Chapter 8.12, Section 8.12.050 is added to read as follows:
8.12.050: Building, maintaining, attending, or using outdoor fires, including campfires, bonfires, pit fires, tiki torches, portable stoves, or any other open flame fire, including (but excluding propane barbecues used for cooking) is hereby prohibited on all private lands within the unincorporated area of Sierra County and public lands within the unincorporated area of Sierra County which are not owned and/or controlled by state or federal governmental agencies. This prohibition shall be reviewed by the Board at each regular meeting thereafter of the Board of Supervisors, until terminated by action of the Board or until December 31, 2020, whichever occurs first.
This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption as an urgency measure pursuant to Government Code sections 65858 and 25123.


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September 20th, 2020

9/20/2020

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SFGate

Chris McGinnis
September 17, 2020


A large number of U.S. hotels temporarily closed their doors as bookings dried up last spring due to the coronavirus pandemic. And as fall approaches, it looks like a significant number of them might not be able to reopen as expected even if business starts to pick up to a healthy level again.


Although big banks and other lenders often allowed some flexibility for strapped hotels to make their mortgage payments during the pandemic, their patience is running low and foreclosure is looming for some major urban properties.


New York City, which has seen a boom in new hotel openings in the past few years, is now seeing a boom in permanent closings. Take, for instance, the Omni Berkshire Place, a classic business travelers’ hotel at Madison Ave. and 52nd Street. Go to its website and you’ll see a notice that the property is “permanently closed.” The website notes that over the years, the hotel has served “millions of guests,” but it adds: “COVID-19 has swiftly and significantly impacted the hospitality industry, and like many hotels, especially those in New York City, we have felt the brunt of the global health crisis. We have made the extremely difficult decision to permanently close Omni Berkshire Place.”


Earlier this month, the 44-story, 478-room Hilton Times Square in the heart of Midtown also closed down for good. The Embassy Suites-Midtown West was taken over by lenders after the real estate investment trust that owned it failed to make the expected debt payments. The W New York-Downtown in the financial district reportedly plans to shut down for good in October. And more permanent closings are likely.


According to a report on CNBC, 34 percent of the hotels in New York City are delinquent on their debts. The report quotes an executive at a leading hospitality investment bank as saying the closures thus far are merely “the tip of the iceberg,” with more likely to follow – especially in the Times Square/Midtown area. The city was already becoming overbuilt before the pandemic hit, and because the city was the earliest big hotspot for COVID-19, tourists and business travelers alike stayed away in droves.


And it’s not just New York. The CNBC report notes that hotel delinquencies “are rising significantly” in cities like Houston, Los Angeles and Chicago.


Speaking of Chicago, one of that city’s most iconic hotels – the 1,600-room Palmer House, operated by Hilton in the heart of The Loop – was sued last month by lenders for defaulting on a mortgage to the tune of more than $330 million. The hotel, Chicago’s second-largest, has been closed since last spring, and its reopening is now uncertain. The lenders asked the court to appoint a receiver for the property.


In Los Angeles, the buzzy Chateau Marmont hotel will convert to a "members only" property. A hotel spokesperson told the LA Times: "The pandemic showed that safety was of the utmost importance to guests, and limiting the hotel to select members ensures that management knows all guests before they arrive." Four Red Rock hotels in the Las Vegas area might not reopen, according to a report in Travel Weekly.


In San Francisco, the Virgin Hotel that opened in May 2019 across from the Moscone Convention Center remains closed after shutting its doors in March of this year, and all mention of the property has been scrubbed from Virgin Hotels’ website. But that may be the result of an ongoing dispute in which Virgin Hotels has sued the hotel’s owner for terminating what was supposed to be a 20-year management contract. The lawsuit alleged that the owner “is attempting to seize upon the disruption created within the hotel industry by the current COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to prematurely and wrongfully terminate the (management agreement) upon manufactured and false grounds.” Virgin has not responded to our requests for more information or updates on the fate of the property.


When the dust settles after all the bankruptcies and repossession proceedings, many of the affected properties are likely to reopen again as hotels – assuming lodging demand eventually recovers -- although some may be converted to other purposes like residential.


It's not all doom and gloom, though. For example, Marriott's shiny new Edition Times Square, which opened with much fanfare last year announced in May that it would close permanently. However, it seems that the hotel has found some financing, and a call to its reservations department confirms that it will open again on October 15.


In San Francisco, there were about 35,000 hotel rooms available prior to COVID-19. Currently, about 20,000 of these are available, but are being used primarily for housing essential and COVID-related workers. That leaves about 15,000 hotel rooms still off the market, and most of those are in big downtown convention hotels which still have boards covering entrances. "When hotels reopen this fall, we don't anticipate a huge spike in demand-- it will be primarily leisure and weekend travelers. Due to COVID-19 we are unable to host conventions or large sports gatherings, which are an essential part of the mix during fall season," said Joe D'Alessandro, CEO of the city's convention and tourism bureau.


Last month, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and hundreds of industry executives sent a letter to Congress asking for urgent relief in the face of unprecedented financial difficulties.


“With record low travel demand, thousands of hotels can’t afford to pay their commercial mortgages and are facing foreclosure with the harsh reality of having to close their doors permanently,” said AHLA CEO Chip Rogers. “Tens of thousands of hotel employees will lose their jobs and small business industries that depend on these hotels to drive local tourism and economic activity will likely face a similar fate.”


The group cited a report from Trepp, a firm that tracks the mortgage-backed securities market, showing that as of July, 23.4 percent of U.S. hotels were 30 or more days behind on their debt payments – the highest level ever, up from just 1.3 percent at the end of last year. The report notes that the metropolitan region with the greatest percentage of delinquencies is Houston, at 66.2 percent, followed by Chicago (53.8 percent), New York (38.7 percent), Seattle (36.1 percent) and Austin (35.7 percent).


While lenders wait for their debt payments, the hotel industry is still struggling with a lack of consumer demand. Like the airlines, hotels have seen a rebound in business since last spring, but in recent weeks it appears to be stalling out. According to the hotel industry data tracking firm STR, U.S. hotel occupancy reached its low point of 22 percent in late March. In mid-August the rate was back up to 50.1 percent, but since then it has had trouble reaching the 50-percent mark. For the week ended Sept. 5, occupancy was 49.4 percent, down almost 19 percent from a year ago.


To view the full article, click here. 




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September 20th, 2020

9/20/2020

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Tahoe National Forest Reopens: Campfires, Dispersed Camping, and Target Shooting Still Prohibited

9/20/2020

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Nevada City, Calif. —The Tahoe National Forest is reopening this weekend after nearly two weeks of unprecedented, emergency closures due to California wildfires and wildfire risk. The forest remains closed until 8:00 a.m. Saturday, September 19, 2020.
 
Along with the general reopening this Saturday, a new Forest Closure Orders will strictly prohibit the following activities across the entire Tahoe National Forest through October 18, 2020:
 
  • Camping, except within Developed Campgrounds open for public use, within the Granite Chief Wilderness, and within 500 feet of the Pacific Crest Trail.
  • Discharging a firearm, except while engaged in a lawful hunt pursuant to state, and federal law and regulations. 
 
In addition, a standing Emergency Fire Restriction Order strictly prohibits the following activities across all National Forests in California through September 21, 2020:
 
  • Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire.
    • This includes all gas stoves of any kind
  • Smoking
Forest Service personnel will begin opening restrooms, gates, day-use sites, and Forest Service roads beginning at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, September 19, 2020. Most campgrounds will remain closed through the weekend.
A limited number of campgrounds will be available on a first-come/ first-serve basis this weekend including:
  • Cottonwood
  • Giant Gap
  • Whitecloud

  • Cold creek
  • Schoolhouse
  • Granite Flat

  • Indian Valley
  • Prosser
  • Silver

 
Please check our website beginning Monday, September 21, 2020 for updates on campground status: https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe/
 
 
 
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​California Statewide Fire SummarySeptember 19, 2020

9/20/2020

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Over 19,000 firefighters continue to battle 27 major wildfires in California, as well as one extended attack wildfire. Milder weather is helping the fire fight as crews continue to gain ground on many of the major incidents. Yesterday, firefighters responded to 22 initial attack wildfires across the State, all of which were contained quickly.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been over 7,900 wildfires that have burned over 3.5 million acres in California. Since August 15, when California’s fire activity elevated, there have been 26 fatalities and over 5,800 structures destroyed.

A slight cooling trend is expected this weekend in portions of Southern California, while most of Northern California will return to a warm and dry weather pattern.  Early in the week, warm conditions are expected to cover most of the state, bringing elevated fire danger. 
 
With significant structure damage as a result of recent wildfires, CAL FIRE is recommending homeowner’s take steps to ‘harden’ their homes. CAL FIRE recently published a low cost retrofit list with improvements that can help protect a home from wildfire embers. To learn more on home hardening visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.  

Fires of Interest:

**CALFIRE Incidents**
LNU Lightning Complex, multiple North Bay counties (more info…)
Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Colusa, Solano, and Yolo Counties
*363,220 acres, 98% contained
*While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing.
 
SCU Lightning Complex, multiple Easy Bay counties (more info…)
Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara San Joaquin, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties
*396,624 acres, 98% contained
*While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing.
 
CZU Lightning Complex, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties (more info…)
*86,509 acres, 98% contained
*Multiple fires
*1,490 structures destroyed
*1 fatality

**Unified Command Incidents**
Snow Fire, Riverside County (more info…)
Snow Creek Rd, west of Palm Springs
*4,200 acres, 5% contained
*Mandatory evacuations in progress
*Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS
 
North Complex, Plumas County (more info…)
Southwest of Susanville (Plumas National Forest)
*289,951 acres, 58% contained
*15 fatalities
*1,323 Structures destroyed
*Evacuations in place
*Includes the Bear and Claremont Fire
*CAL FIRE Team 4 is in unified command with US Forest Service IMT Team 4

Creek Fire, Fresno County (more info…)
Northeast of Shaver Lake (Sierra National Forest)
*248,256 acres, 22% contained
*Evacuations in effect
*Heavy tree mortality in the area
*843 structures destroyed
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 in unified command with USFS Great Basin Team 1

El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…)
West of Oak Glen (San Bernardino National Forest)
*22,071 acres, 59% contained
*One fatality
*Evacuations in place
*10 structures destroyed
*California Interagency Incident Management Team 11 in unified command with CAL FIRE, Yucaipa Fire Department and San Bernardino County Fire Department

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.
 
SQF Complex, Tulare County (more info…)
25 miles north of Kernville (Sequoia National Forest)
*133,488 acres, 12% contained
*Evacuations in place
*Castle and Shotgun Fires merged into this complex
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6 in unified command with USFS Team 2
 
Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
Hwy 1, 10 miles south of Big Sur (Los Padres National Forest)
*127,724 acres, 46% contained
*Structures threatened
*CAL FIRE is in unified command with Type 1 NW Team 2 (Allen) 

**Coordinated Command Incidents**
August Complex, Tehama County (more info…)
Elk Creek and Stonyford area (Mendocino National Forest)
*832,891 acres 30% contained
*South Zone 485,531 acres, 40% contained
*North Zone 258,554 acres, 21% contained
*West Zone 88,806 acres, 7% contained
*1 fatality
*Includes multiple fires including the Elkhorn, Hopkins, Willow, Vinegar, and Doe fires
*A California Interagency Incident Management Team and Great Basin Team in command
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 3 & 5 are deployed on the West Zone of the complex.

**Federal Incidents**
Fox Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) 
*1,850 acres, 17% contained
*Evacuations in place
 
Slater Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…)
5 miles North of Happy Camp (Klamath National Forest)
*146,698 acres, 18% contained
*2 fatalities
*Evacuation orders in place
 
Devil Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…)
5 miles north of Upper Devil’s Peak (Klamath National Forest)
*7,144 acres, 7% contained

Bobcat Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
North of Duarte (Angeles National Forest)
*91,017 acres, 15% containment
*Evacuations in place

Bullfrog Fire, Fresno County (more…)
SE of Bullfrog Lake (Sierra National Forest)
*900 acres, 4% contained

Fork Fire, El Dorado County, (more info…)
15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines (El Dorado National Forest)
*1,752 acres, 53% contained
*Evacuation orders remain in place

Valley Fire, San Diego County (more info…)
Near Alpine (Cleveland National Forest)
*17,093 acres, 91% contained
*CAIIMT 15 in command
 
Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
Southwest of Lake Hughes
Angeles National Forest / Los Angeles County Fire Department
* 31,089 acres, 96% 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)
*101,587 acres, 19% contained        

Blue Jay Fire, Mariposa County (more info…)
Yosemite National Park Wilderness
*4,061 acres, 40% contained

Wolf Fire, Tuolumne County (more info…)
Yosemite National Park Wilderness
*1,032 acres, 25% contained

Woodward Fire, Marin County (more info…)
3 miles southwest of Olema (Point Reyes National Seashore)
*4,929 acres, 97% contained
 
Slink Fire, Mono County (more info…)
2 miles west of Coleville (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest)
*26,752 acres, 71% contained

Moraine, Tulare County (more info…)
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness
*558 acres, 70% contained
 
Rattlesnake, Tulare County (more info…)
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness 
*2,078 acres, 0% contained

**Extended Attack Wildfires**
(These are wildfires that go beyond the initial attack, but are not major incidents.)

Shackleford Fire, Siskiyou County (more…) 
Southwest of Quartz Valley Reservation
*50 acres, 85% contained 
 
Top 20 Wildfire Records
  • 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 #10 Creek Fire.
  • Most Destructive - #9 LNU Lightning Complex, #10 CZU Lightning Complex, #12 North Complex, and #17 Creek Fire.
  • Deadliest Wildfires - #5 North Complex and #20 LNU Lightning Complex









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September 15th, 2020

9/15/2020

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​As Wildfires Burn Across California, PG&E Shares Lifesaving Tips with Customers During National Preparedness Month

9/15/2020

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SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.— The magnitude of California’s 2020 wildfire season is hard to comprehend. To date, CAL FIRE reports that more than 7,600 fires have scorched approximately 3.2 million acres this year in the Golden State -- an area almost the size of Connecticut. And five 2020 fires – the August Complex, the SCU Lightning Complex, the LNU Lightning Complex, the North Complex and the Creek Fire – already ranked among the 15 largest in state history.
 
With that as a backdrop, and as thousands of firefighters and other first responders continue to work to protect people and property, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) reminds its customers that the best time to prepare for an emergency or natural disaster is before it happens. That’s what National Preparedness Month is all about.
 
Start by gathering supplies and creating an emergency kit that will last for several days after a disaster for everyone living in your home. Be sure to include flashlights, fresh batteries, first aid supplies and cash. Customers can get updates on outages in their neighborhood using PG&E’s outage information line at 1-800-743-5002 and PG&E’s Electric Outage Map online at pge.com.
 
If you already have a kit, make sure it’s up to date. Don’t forget to pack a “go bag” in case you need to evacuate quickly, considering the unique needs of everyone in your family, including elderly, younger children and pets.
 
Emergency Preparation Tips
  • Plan for multiple evacuation routes and discuss them with your family.
  • If you own a generator, make sure it’s ready to operate safely.
  • Make sure you know how to open your garage door manually.
  • Have cash on hand and a full tank of gas.
  • Keep mobile phones fully charged.
  • Identify backup charging methods and keep hard copies of emergency numbers.
  • Plan for medications that require refrigeration or devices that need power.
  • Have masks and hand sanitizer readily available, both at home and in your car.
 
Electric Safety Tips
  • Treat all low hanging and downed power lines as if they are energized and extremely dangerous. Keep yourself and others away from them. Be aware of trees, pools of water and other objects that may be in contact with power lines. If you see damaged power lines and electric equipment, call 911, and then notify PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
 
If your vehicle comes in contact with a downed power line:
  • Stay inside! The safest place is in your car. The ground around your car may be energized.
  • Honk the horn, roll down your window and yell for help.
  • Warn others to stay away. Anyone who touches the equipment or ground around the vehicle may be injured.
  • Use your mobile phone to call 911.
  • Fire department, police and PG&E workers will tell you when it is safe to get out of the vehicle.
 
If there is a fire and you have to exit a vehicle that has come in contact with downed power lines:
  • Remove loose items of clothing.
  • Keep your hands at your sides and jump clear of the vehicle, so you are not touching the car when your feet hit the ground.
  • Keep both feet close together and shuffle away from the vehicle without picking up your feet.
 
Gas Safety Tips
  • If you are ordered to evacuate, please evacuate as soon as possible. Do not shut off your gas service just because of the evacuation order.
  • If you smell gas, hear gas escaping, see a broken gas line, or suspect a gas leak, you can shut off your gas line, but only if it is safe to do so. Alert others and evacuate the area to an upwind location if possible.
  • If you smell gas, do not use anything that could be a source of ignition, including candles, cell phones, flashlights, light switches, matches or vehicles, until you are a safe distance away.
  • Customers who smell gas should vacate the premises immediately, call 911 and then PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
  • For additional information related to your gas service, please visit our website www.pge.com/gassafety.
 
 
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 23,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
 
 
 
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California Statewide Fire SummarySeptember 15, 2020

9/15/2020

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Over 16,600 firefighters remain on the front lines of 25 major wildfires and two extended attack wildfires in California. Yesterday, activity increased on several of the wildfires, while on other fires, crews continued their progress towards containment. Firefighters were able to contain two large wildfires yesterday, all while still responding to 33 initial attack wildfires across the State. 

Since the beginning of the year, wildfires have burned over 3.2 million acres in California. Since August 15, when California’s fire activity elevated, there have been 25 fatalities and over 4,200 structures destroyed.

A Red Flag Warning continues in portions of Northeastern California around Modoc National Forest and Tulelake Basin due to gusty winds and low humidity. This Red Flag Warning is in effect today, but these conditions will likely continue Thursday. Temperatures are expected to be warm today and Thursday although tempered a bit by smoke. It will be cooler Friday and through the weekend as the trough moves through with some increase in humidity. 

With no significant precipitation in sight, California remains dry and ripe for wildfires.  Have you signed up for emergency alerts in case a fire near your home requires you to evacuate?  If not, be sure to sign up for the alerts in your county here to make sure you are prepared, and to learn more about other ways to be ready for any emergency,  visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org. 

Fires of Interest:**CAL FIRE Incidents**
Shackleford Fire, Siskiyou County (more…) 
Southwest of Quartz Valley Reservation
*50 acres, 50% contained

Willow Fire, Yuba County (more info…)  FINAL
Willow Glen Road, Dobbins
*1,311 acres, 100% contained
*Evacuations in place
 
Oak Fire, Mendocino County (more info…)  FINAL
North of Willits
*1,100 acres, 100% contained
 
LNU Lightning Complex, multiple North Bay counties (more info…)
Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Colusa, Solano, and Yolo Counties
*363,220 acres, 97% contained
*Hennessey (merged fires) 305,651 acres, 96% contained
*Wallbridge 55,209 acres, 95% contained
*1,491 structures destroyed
*5 fatalities
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 2 in command
 
SCU Lightning Complex, multiple Easy Bay counties (more info…)
Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara San Joaquin, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties
*396,624 acres, 98% contained
*20 fires in the complex, several have merged together
*222 structures destroyed
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6 command

CZU Lightning Complex, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties (more info…)
*86,509 acres, 91% contained
*Multiple fires
*1,490 structures destroyed
*1 fatality
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 3 command
 
Schoolhouse, Siskiyou County (more info…)
Schoolhouse Gap Road, north of Fort Jones
*45 acres, 90% contained
 
**Unified Command Incidents**
North Complex, Plumas County (more info…)
Southwest of Susanville (Plumas National Forest)
*269,358 acres, 32% contained
*15 fatalities
*Evacuations in place
*Includes the Bear and Claremont Fire
*CAL FIRE Team 4 is now in unified command with US Forest Service IMT Team 4

Creek Fire, Fresno County (more info…)
Northeast of Shaver Lake (Sierra National Forest)
*220,025 acres, 16% contained
*Evacuations in effect
*Heavy tree mortality in the area
*CAL FIRE and US Forest Service in unified command
*CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1
*Great Basin Team 1

El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…)
West of Oak Glen (San Bernardino National Forest)
*17,598 acres, 54% contained
*Evacuations in place
*California Interagency Incident Management Team 11 in unified command with CAL FIRE, Yucaipa Fire Department and San Bernardino County Fire Department

Butte/Tehama/Glenn (BTU/TGU) Lightning Complex, multiple Counties (more info…)
Butte, Tehama, and Glenn Counties
*19,609 acres, 97% contained
*Includes multiple other smaller fires
*Decrease in acres as Elkhorn was moved to the August Complex.
*16 structures destroyed

**Coordinated Command Incidents**
August Complex, Tehama County (more info…)
Elk Creek and Stonyford area (Mendocino National Forest)
*803,489 acres 30% contained
*North/South Zone 754,480 acres, 30% contained
*West Zone 49,009 acres, 0% contained
*Decreased acreage due to mapping by USFS
*1 fatality
*Includes multiple fires including the Elkhorn, Hopkins, Willow, Vinegar, and Doe fires
*A California Interagency Incident Management Team and Great Basin Team in command
*A CAL FIRE Incident Management Team is deployed on the west zone of the fire.

**Federal Incidents**
SQF Complex, Tulare County (more info...)
25 miles north of Kernville (Sequoia National Forest)
*107,101 acres, 12% contained
*Castle and Shotgun Fires merged into this complex

Slater Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…)
5 miles North of Happy Camp (Klamath National Forest)
*131,601 acres, 10% contained
*2 fatalities
*Evacuation orders in place
 
Devil Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…)
5 miles north of Upper Devil’s Peak (Klamath National Forest)
*4,429 acres, 0% contained

Bobcat Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
North of Duarte
Angeles National Forest
*41,231 acres, 3% containment
*Evacuations in progress
*EA Silver Team in command

Bullfrog Fire, Fresno County (more…)
SE of Bullfrog Lake, Sierra National Forest
*900 acres, 0% contained

Fork Fire, El Dorado County, (more info…)
15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines (El Dorado National Forest)
*1,752 acres, 7% contained
*Evacuation orders remain in place

Valley Fire, San Diego County (more info…)
Near Alpine (Cleveland National Forest)
*17,665 acres, 87% contained
*CAIIMT 15 in command

Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
Southwest of Lake Hughes
Angeles National Forest / Los Angeles County Fire Department
* 31,089 acres, 96% contained
 
Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
Hwy 1, 10 miles south of Big Sur (Los Padres National Forest)
*118,465 acres, 40% contained
*Structures threatened
*Type 1 NW Team 2 (Allen) in command

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)
*91,743 acres, 16% contained          

Blue Jay Fire, Mariposa County (more info…)
Yosemite National Park Wilderness
*3,500 acres, 20% contained

Wolf Fire, Tuolumne County (more info…)
Yosemite National Park Wilderness
*828 acres, 10% contained

Woodward Fire, Marin County (more info…)
3 miles southwest of Olema (Point Reyes National Seashore)
*4,920 acres, 96% contained
 
Slink Fire, Mono County (more info…)
2 miles west of Coleville (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest)
*26,709 acres, 60% contained

Moraine, Tulare County (more info…)
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness
*575 acres, 70% contained
 
Rattlesnake, Tulare County (more info…)
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness 
*1,441 acres, 0% contained
 
Top 20 Wildfire Records
  • 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, #9 North Complex, and #16 Creek Fire.
  • Most Destructive - #9 LNU Lightning Complex and #10 CZU Lightning Complex
  • Deadliest Wildfires - #5 North Complex and #20 LNU Lightning Complex
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