Wildfire Roundup for California

[JohnLanders]

https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/20...tning-complex/

NAPA (CBS SF) ? New evacuations were ordered in Napa and Sonoma County from a series of lightning-caused wildfires designated together by the Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit as the LNU Lightning Complex fires. The fires have collectively burned at least 12,000 acres as of Tuesday afternoon.

In Napa County, the Hennessey Fire continued to burn with zero percent containment Tuesday afternoon, one of the North Bay wildfires in the LNU complex.

Cal Fire said a new mandatory evacuation order issued at 7 p.m. was for

Wragg Canyon Rd ? from Hwy 128 to the end of the road, including Pleasure Cove Resort
Chiles Pope Valley Road ? From Lower Chiles Valley Road to Pope Canyon Road.
Mandatory evacuations already in place:

All of Steele Canyon Rd from Hwy 128 to and including the Berryessa Highlands Subdivision.
All areas on Berryessa Knoxville Rd from Eastside Rd to Hwy 128 at the intersection of Berryessa Knoxville Rd / Hwy 128 (Turtle Rock Bar)
Everything west of Lake Berryessa?s water edge
Pope Canyon Rd from Pope Valley Rd to Berryessa Knoxville Rd., including Hardin Rd and the Sufi Center
The intersection on Butts Canyon Road and Snell Valley Road to all of Berryessa Estates Sub Division
From Moskowite Corner to Wooden Valley Rd, Including the community of Circle Oaks
Atlas Peak from the Bubbing Well Pet Cemetary at 2462 Atlas Peak Rd to the dead end
From Loma Vista Rd / Soda Canyon Rd to the dead end.
Highway 128 from Chiles Valley Road to Monticello Road
Chiles Pope Valley Road from Highway 128 to Lower Chiles Valley Road
All of Hennessey Ridge Road
In addition, an evacuation warning was in effect for:

Highway 128 at Silverado Trail to Chiles Pope Valley Road, including the Pritchard Hills area
Highway 128 at Lower Chiles Valley Road to Turtle Rock
Butts Canyon Rd from the Lake County line to James Creek.
An evacuation center is located at Crosswalk Community Church, located at 2590 First Street, in Napa. Authorities have also shut down Chiles Valley Road, Sage Canyon Road and Highway 128.

In Sonoma County, Cal Fire says two wildfires have also prompted evacuations. The fires in the western portion of the county were dubbed the 13-4 Fire and the 11-16 Fire.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for:

Entire area of Zone 1D (1D1, 1D2, 1D3, 1D4, 1D5)
East of the Sonoma Coast from Fort Ross Rd.to the Russian River
North and East of the Russian River
South of Sweetwater Springs Rd. and south of Fort Ross Rd.
South of Stewarts Point Skaggs Springs Road
West of West Dry Creek Road and Westside Road
North of Sweetwater Springs Road and McCray Ridge Road
East of the East Austin Creek (the actual creek)
West of Meyers Grade Road to the coast
South of Fort Ross Road
North of the intersection of Meyers Grade Road at Highway 1
North of Austin Creek Recreational Area
East of The Cedars
Mill Creek Road west of the intersection of Puccioni Road
With the situation deteriorating in wine country and elsewhere, Gov. Gavin Newson declared a statewide emergency Tuesday to help ensure the availability of vital resources to combat fires burning across the state.

?We are deploying every resource available to keep communities safe as California battles fires across the state during these extreme conditions,? Newsom said.

The North Bay wildfires comprising the LNU Lightning Complex fires were the Hennessey Fire, the Gamble Fire, and the 15-10 Fire in Napa County, along with the 13-4 Fire and 11-16 Fire in Sonoma County.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Hennessey Fire had burned 2,700 acres, destroying one structure and two outbuildings. The Gamble Fire was burning in an area off Berryessa Knoxville Road north of Lake Berryessa and west of state Highway 16 and has burned 5,000 acres. The 15-10 Fire was burning near the Putah Bridge and was at 4,500 acres.

There was zero containment on all the fires as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. Neither the Gamble incident nor the 15-10 incident were threatening structures.

Early Tuesday, a small army of firefighters deployed along Lower Chiles Road, preparing to do battle with the advancing wall of flames from the Hennessey Fire which continued to rage out-of-control and had burned through more than 2,700 acres.

Nearby stood Phil Sunseri and a group of workers from the Nichelini Winery, the famed wine-growing region?s oldest family-owned winery built in 1890. They had prepared for this moment for years since wildfires began roaring through the region.

?We?ve prepared for fire every year,? he said. ?The fire can be overwhelming. You just do the best you can.?

Winery employees had cut firebreaks on the property and were working as guides for firefighters, showing them how to tap into the winery?s water system and the best places to battle the fire. Still, Sunseri knows it may not be enough.

?When it gets to a certain stage, we will leave,? he said.

The fire started in the 60 block of Hennessey Ridge Road, east of St. Helena early Monday morning as the region was being pelted by dry lightning strikes.

The lightning had kept some in Napa County up for two nights straight, worried about lightning-strike fires.

?Last night it was loud and I could tell it was close, but I imagine lightning might?ve had something to do with it,? said Nicholini Winery President Bill Narlock. ?You can?t replace it. We?re gonna do everything we can to protect it.?

[JohnLanders]

https://abc7news.com/atlas-peak-fire...n-bay/6374881/

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A record-breaking heat wave combined with thousands of lightning strikes has sparked several wildfires around the Bay Area.

Here's what you need to know about the fires burning right now:

CZU August Fire/La Honda Fire
San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties
A fire spread Tuesday west of Skyline Boulevard in San Mateo County in an area where 200 to 300 people live. About 100 structures are threatened, according to CAL FIRE. The fires have been smoldering since they were presumably started by lightning strikes on Sunday, but really grew on Tuesday. Pescadero Creek, Memorial and Sam McDonald parks are all closed due to the fire, according to San Mateo County Parks.
Acres burned: 1,000
Containment: 0%

Evacuation orders in San Mateo County:

Butano Community Area
Community of Loma Mar
Dearborn Park
Pescadero Creek County Park
Butano State Park area including Barranca Knolls community
Butano Creek drainage area


NAPA FIRES: Mandatory evacuations ordered near Hennessey Fire

LNU Lightning Complex Fires
Napa County
The Lightning Complex is made up of three large fires: Hennessey, Gamble and 15-10, which are all burning in Napa County. So far, three structures have been damaged and another 205 are threatened. See more on the size of the individual fires below.

15-10 Fire
The 15-10 Fire is burning near Putah Creek Bridge and Berryessa Knoxville Road, on the west side of Lake Berryessa between the Gamble and Hennessey fires.
Acres burned: 4,500
Containment: 0%

Gamble Fire
The Gamble Fire is burning northeast of the Hennessey Fire (see below), near Lake Berryessa. It started Monday on Berryessa Knoxville Road west of Brooks.
Acres burned: 5,000
Containment: 0%

Hennessey Fire
The fire in Napa County broke out near Hennessey Ridge Road and Chiles Pope Valley Road, east of St Helena, Monday morning and began to spread quickly. "Crews are dealing with rugged terrain, adverse weather, and unfavorable fire conditions," CAL Fire said in an update Monday. The area was hit by lightning Monday morning.
Acres burned: 2,700
Containment: 0%

Evacuation orders in Napa County:

Wragg Canyon Rd - from Hwy 128 to the end of the road, including Pleasure Cove Resort
Chiles Pope Valley Road - From Lower Chiles Valley Road to Pope Canyon Road
All of Berryessa Knoxville Road from the intersection with Highway 128 (southwest of Lake Berryessa) to the intersection with Eastside Road (northeast of the lake)
Everything immediately west of Lake Berryessa
Pope Canyon Road from Pope Valley Road to Berryessa Knoxville Road
From Moskowite Corner to Wooden Valley Road, including the community of Circle Oaks
Atlas Peak from the Bubbing Well Pet Cemetary at 2462 Atlas Peak Rd. to the dead end
From Loma Vista Drive and Soda Canyon Road to the dead end
Snell Valley Road from Butts Canyon Road to Spanish Valley Trail, including the Berryessa estates
Highway 128 from Lower Chiles Valley Road to Monticello Road
Highway 128 from Chiles Pope Valley Road to Lower Chiles Valley Road
Chiles Pope Valley Road from Highway 128 to Lower Chiles Valley Road
All of Hennessey Ridge Road

Evacuation warnings in Napa County:

Butts Canyon Road from the Lake County line to James Creek
Highway 128 at Silverado Trail to Chiles Pope Valley Road, including the Pritchard Hills Area
Highway 128 at Lower Chiles Valley Road to Turtle Rock

Road closures:

Highway 128
Sage Canyon Road
Chiles Pope Valley Road
Lower Chiles Valley Road


Austin Creek Fire/13-4 Fire
Sonoma County
A fire is burning near Venado in Sonoma County.
Acres burned: TBD
Containment: 0%

Evacuation orders in Sonoma County:

North of Austin Creek Recreational Area
East of The Cedars
West of end of Mill Creek Road
South of Stewarts Point-Skaggs Springs Road
West of West Dry Creek Road and Westside Road
North of Sweetwater Springs Road and McCray Ridge Road
East of the East Austin Creek (the actual creek)


SCU Lightning Complex Fires

Twenty different fires across several counties are broken into three zones: Deer Zone, Calaveras Zone and Canyon Zone. They have burned 25,000 acres combined so far. The fires are burning in steep, dry areas, making it challenging for firefighters to attack them. Lightning is the suspected cause in many of the fires.
Acres burned: 25,000
Containment: 0%


Deer Zone Fires
Contra Costa County
Includes the Marsh Fire, Palm Fire, Round Fire and Briones Fire

Calaveras Zone Fires
Santa Clara, Alameda and Stanislaus counties
Includes the Kilkare Fire, Arroyo Fire, Mill Creek Fire, Welch Fire, Ohlone Fire and Reservoir Fire

Canyon Zone Fires
San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties
Includes the Peg Leg Fire, Terraville Fire, Del Puerto Fire and Peach Fire

Evacuation orders:

Alameda/Stanislaus County:
Frank Rains Park to Mines Road
Del Puerto Canyon Road 1 mile to Mines Road

Alameda County:
Welch Creek Road

Contra Costa County:
Marsh Creek Road at Round Valley to Morgan Territory
All of Morgan Territory and the mobile home park on Marsh Creek Road

Evacuation warnings:

Alameda County:
Mill Creek Road

Road closures:
Marsh Creek Road between Morgan Territory Road and Deer Valley Road
Del Puerto Canyon Road (SR-130) between Mines Road and Diablo Grande Parkway


4-6 Fire
Marin County
A fire broke out Tuesday afternoon in Point Reyes National Seashore adjacent to the Woodward Trail. There were no immediate evacuations or structures threatened, according to Marin County Fire, but the area was difficult for crews to access.
Acres burned: 50
Containment: 0%


This story will be updated as firefighters get blazes under control or new fires break out. Check back for updates.

[JohnLanders]

https://www.kcra.com/article/evacuat...-road/33622917

NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. —
Evacuation orders were expanded Tuesday for thousands of people as a slope-driven wildfire continues to burn in Nevada County.

The fire, called the Jones Fire, was ignited by lightning Sunday night in the South Yuba River canyon off Jones Bar Road, northwest of Nevada City. About 4,000 residents are under evacuation orders, according to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.

As of Tuesday night, the fire had charred 650 acres and was 15% contained, according to Cal Fire. Four houses and "several" outbuildings were destroyed in the fire, the sheriff's office said.

EVACUATIONS IN PLACE
Officials expanded mandatory evacuations and issued warnings Tuesday as crews continued to fight the wildfire.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for:

Jones Bar Road north of Woolman
Areas north of Ridge Road
North side of Newton Road
Lois Lane
Monte Vista
Jones Bar
Empress Cross
Personeni Lane
Elizabeth
Bodie Ridge Road
Indian Shack Road
Diamond Oaks Drive
Applewood Lane
Lazy Oaks Drive
Excelsior Ditch Camp Road
Leisure Lane
Augustine Road
Daisy Blue Mine Road
Crystal View Heights
Golden Oak Court
Cement Hill Road
Fox Hill Road
Ragon Road
Whispering Oaks Lane
Mount Auburn Circle
Gochine Drive
Sunrock Road
Some 11,600 residents were under evacuation warnings Tuesday. Evacuation warnings, which means residents should get ready to leave, were issued for:

Wet Hill Road
West Airport Road
Rock Creek Road
Alderwood
Lake Vera Purdon Road
Selby Lane
Misty meadow Lane
West Mandolin Way
New Rome Road
Dylan Court
Eaglepine Place
Grunt Hill Road
Marigold Way
Rabb Road
Rector Road
Kimberly Court
Jeanette Road
Running Horse Road
Quaillan Way
Round Mountain Ranch Road
Anglewood Lane
Bear Run Lane
Hudson Way
Trailhead Road
Purdon Road
B-4 Ranch Road
Glass Road
Deerhaven Lane
Road closures are in place at Rough and Ready Highway and Bitney Springs Road.

Nevada County officials created a website for people to get a closer look at evacuation orders and warnings. See the details here.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Traffic on Hwy 49 near intersection with Hwy 20.

It looks like this is traffic due to evacuations from #JonesFire pic.twitter.com/JkdNPc8IpP

— Emily Maher (@EmilyMaherTV) August 18, 2020
Officials expanded evacuations Monday afternoon when the fire began moving toward Nevada City. Cal Fire said there were a lot of unexpected winds, which pushed the flames through contingency fire lines.

Commander Division Chief Jim Mathias said in a Facebook post that Cal Fire is being "overaggressive" with evacuations so residents can get out early due to the "rapid fire spread."

This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
A temporary evacuation center was set up at Ready Springs School, located on Spencerville Road in Penn Valley. Animals can be taken to the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

BATTLING THE BLAZE
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said Monday the fire can potentially grow toward the cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City.

"We really want to make sure people heed the warnings, heed the advisories," Moon said. "Prepare, plan to get out to a safe location. Notify your family."

The fire is burning in steep terrain where access is difficult. Crews are attacking the fire from the air and the ground.

"This fire is in extremely rugged terrain here in Nevada county," Cal Fire Chief Brian Estes said Monday. "Probably one of our target hazards, our greatest threats, which is the multiple forks of the Yuba River drainage. This is the south fork, which comes up into the communities of Grass Valley and Yuba City." Firefighters are also working during extreme triple-digit heat and low humidity.

"This is definitely on the extreme of what our folks are prepared to do," Estes said. "We’ve been seeing conditions out here on this fire from 105 to 108 (degrees), with very, very low humidity, very little recovery at night. And then with that some very dry, hot northwest winds."

Moon said there is a resource issue while crews battle the flames.

"Clearly, throughout the entire state, with this many fires going on, there’s a resource issue with 'Do we have enough firefighters to try and contain this thing?,'" Moon said, adding, "It's an unbelievable attack they’re trying to take on to this fire."

Nevada County fire
Nevada County Sheriff's Office
The threat of rolling blackouts also complicated evacuation plans, officials said.

"With the high temperatures, we understand there’s a heavy load with PG&E infrastructure," Moon said. "In a fire, one of the ways we contact our public is through either a cell phone call or telephone call, we need that power to be on for our folks to be able to hear those things."

Moon added that the potential outage "just adds another layer of anxiety for folks, you don’t know what's going to happen if you don’t have your power on."

Estes said Cal Fire operations are powered by a generator, so firefighters would not be impacted by an outage. But, an outage would be an issue with evacuations.

"We’re in a situation where we’re looking at evacuation of residents here from Nevada County, it really just adds a level of complication," Estes explained. "We’re working really closely with PG&E, as we do on any of our instances, to try to lessen those impacts to the fire."

[JohnLanders]

https://ktla.com/news/california/rec...ss-california/

A record-breaking heat wave coupled with rare summer thunderstorms are fueling wildfires across California, with more than 30 burning several hundred square miles Tuesday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency surrounding the situation Tuesday afternoon, which he said should help free up resources to combat the fires.

“We are deploying every resource available to keep communities safe as California battles fires across the state during these extreme conditions,” the governor said in a statement.

The operator of California’s energy grid, the California Independent System Operator, also declared a Stage 2 emergency Tuesday and said power shutoffs and imminent. A Flex Alert would remain in effect until 10 p.m.

Nearly 42 million people will be under some type of heat warning in California this week, with some warnings lasting through Thursday and Friday, according to CNN meteorologist Michael Guy.

Temperatures have surpassed 100 degrees in parts of the state, with Death Valley reaching a record breaking 130 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend.

‘Extraordinary unprecedented historic event’
The current combination of extreme heat, thunderstorms and wildfires across parts of California is an “extraordinary unprecedented historic event,” Brian Garcia, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in the San Francisco Bay Area told CNN.

Heatwaves of this magnitude don’t typically last a full week in California, Garcia said, and with thunderstorms that are producing lightning also forecast in the Bay Area, the likelihood of a wildfire being ignited and spread is much higher than usual.

“I’ve been following California’s weather for 15 years and I haven’t seen it in my career,” Garcia said. “There are others in this office who have been here for 20 to 30 years who haven’t seen it in their careers either.”

Garcia said that the record breaking temperatures in California are also intense because the state is in a pressure cooker-like situation where an area of high pressure situated over the southwestern portion of Utah is pushing down on most of the state of California. In other words, the air is pushing down, heating up, and remaining very stationary over the state.

Garcia said August will probably be one of the warmest months on record for California if the current hot temperatures end up outweighing the temperatures from the first half of the month that were fairly pleasant and cool. He added that 2020 may also be one of the hottest years California has seen to date.

“I think when we take a look back at this this year as a whole — in line with everything else that has been going on in the world to make 2020 as crazy as it is — it will probably be one of the warmest years on record for California,” Garcia said. “Although we don’t know those numbers yet… if it continues on that route then yes, we will be able to start to attribute to some degree the stretches that we’ve seen in this year to global climate change.”

At least three cities in the state reported a new record temperature on Monday, a tweet from NWS San Diego said.

Fires still blazing
A total of 38 wildfires are still burning, many of them in Northern California, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The largest fire was the Dome Fire in Mojave National Preserve in the southeast part of the state, which has burned 42,838 acres and was 5% contained, according to fire officials.

The Apple Fire straddling San Bernardino and Riverside counties is also among the largest, burning 33,424 acres since it started on July 31. Fire crews have been battling the blaze for weeks, and it is 95% contained, according to InciWeb.

In Monterey County, the River Fire has threatened at least 1,500 structures, according to Cal Fire. Six have already been destroyed and two have suffered damage in the 3,800 acre blaze that left four firefighters with minor injuries, Cal Fire said.

Smoke from these fires is also a concern for residents as air quality warnings continue in the Southern Joaquin Valley, according to CNN meteorologist Michael Guy. These will not expire until the fires are extinguished.