2020 California wildfires
From top to bottom, and left to right;
September 10 satellite image of the wildfires burning in California and Oregon; The Aurora Fire on June 26, 2020; The Bobcat Fire burning in the San Gabriel mountains near Monrovia; Smoke from the North Complex over the Bay Bridge at noon on September 9; An orange sky over Eureka on Sept 9; The CZU Lightning Complex fires along Butano Ridge on August 18; The Loyalton Fire near Calpine; The Hennessey and Spanish Fires burn towards Lake Berryessa on August 18, 2020
Statistics[1]
Total fires9,917[1]
Total area4,397,809 acres (1,779,730 ha)[2][3]
Cost>$12.079 billion (2020 USD) (Third-costliest on record)[4][2]
Date(s)
February 15, 2020–January 5, 2021
Buildings destroyed10,488 (CAL FIRE)[1]
9,211 (NIFC Year-to-Date report)[2]
Deaths33[1]
Non-fatal injuries37[1]
Map
A map of wildfires across California in 2020 using MODIS satellite data of wildfire detections
A map of wildfires across California in 2020 using MODIS satellite data of wildfire detections
Season
← 2019
2021 →
2020 Western U.S. wildfires
Multiple wildfires burning near the Pacific coast of the U.S. on September 9, 2020
Affected states
Background
Largest wildfire by state
  • Arizona - Bush (193,455 acres)
  • California - August Complex (1,032,648 acres)
  • Colorado - Cameron Peak (208,913 acres)
  • Nevada - Meadow Valley (59,265 acres)
  • New Mexico - Cub (25,950 acres)
  • Oregon - Santiam (402,274 acres)
  • Utah - East Fork (89,765 acres)
  • Washington - Pearl Hill (223,730 acres)
Five of the twenty largest wildfires in California history were part of the 2020 wildfire season.
An August 19, 2020 satellite image of the wildfires burning in Northern California, covering a significant portion of California and nearby states.

The 2020 California wildfire season, part of the 2020 Western United States wildfire season, was a record-setting year of wildfires in California. By the end of the year, 9,917 fires[1] had burned 4,397,809 acres (1,779,730 ha),[2][3][3] more than 4% of the state's roughly 100 million acres of land, making 2020 the largest wildfire season recorded in California's modern history (according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection),[5][6] though roughly equivalent to the pre-1800 levels which averaged around 4.4 million acres yearly and up to 12 million in peak years.[7] California's August Complex fire has been described as the first "gigafire", burning over 1 million acres across seven counties, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island. The fires destroyed over 10,000 structures[1] and cost over $12.079 billion (2020 USD) in damages, including over $10 billion in property damage and $2.079 billion in fire suppression costs.[4][2] The intensity of the fire season has been attributed to a combination of more than a century of poor forest management[8][9] and higher temperatures resulting from climate change.[10][11]

On August 18, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency,[12] and on August 19, 2020, reported that the state was battling 367 known fires, many sparked by intense thunderstorms on August 16–17 caused by moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Fausto. Response and evacuations were complicated by a historic heatwave and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On August 22, President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration (DR-4558), which provides Individual Assistance and/or Public Assistance.

In early September 2020, a combination of a record-breaking heat wave and strong katabatic winds, (including the Jarbo, Diablo, and Santa Ana) caused explosive fire growth. The August Complex became California's largest recorded wildfire.[13] The Creek Fire expanded in the Big Creek drainage area, temporarily trapping hundreds of campers near the Mammoth Pool Reservoir. The North Complex explosively grew in size as the winds fanned it westward, threatening the city of Oroville, triggering mass evacuations, and causing 16 fatalities.[14]

Governor Newsom's request for a federal disaster declaration for six major wildfires was approved on October 17 after having been rejected the previous day.[15][16]

On November 10, 2020, the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) reported that there were around 3,400 firefighters plus personnel fighting the wildfires in the United States.

Early outlook

Early in the year, there was a concern for the 2020 fire season to potentially be prolonged and especially grave, due to the unusually dry months of January and February, one of the driest such periods of any calendar year on record.[17] On March 22, a state of emergency was declared by California Governor Gavin Newsom due to a mass die-off of trees throughout the state, potentially increasing the risk of wildfires.[18] However, throughout March and April, rain began to consistently fall in the state, which alleviated the drought conditions. Despite this, Northern California was still expected to have severe wildfire conditions due to the moderate or severe drought conditions in the area, whereas Central and Southern California were expected to have serious fire conditions later in the year due to the late wet season and precipitation.[19]

On June 18, climate scientist Daniel Swain predicted the 2020 Arizona wildfire season was a sign of what was to come in California, due to similar drought and weather conditions between Arizona and Northern California.[20]

Seasonal fire risk

External videos
video icon "What are California megafires? Things to Know", 11.20.2019, Knowable Magazine

The year 2020 was the largest wildfire year recorded in California history, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.[2][5] From a historical perspective, the average annual acres burned prior to 1850 were probably significantly larger than years since reliable fire records began. Scott Stephens, a professor of fire science at UC Berkeley, estimated that prior to 1850, about 4,500,000 acres (1,800,000 ha) burned yearly, in fires that lasted for months. Activity peaked roughly every 30 years, with up to 11,800,000 acres (4,800,000 ha) burning during peak years.[8][9][21] The indigenous peoples of California historically set controlled burns and allowed natural fires to run their course.[8][7]

The peak of the wildfire season usually occurs between July and November when hot, dry winds are most frequent. The wildfire season typically does not end until the first significant rainstorm of autumn arrives, which is usually around October in Northern California, and early November in Southern California.

As wildfire becomes more frequent, the wildland–urban interface has increasingly become more dangerous when it comes to property damage and risk to life.[22]

Causes

Land development and forest management

Scientists believe that, prior to development, California fires regularly burned significantly more acreage than has been seen in recent history.[23] Wildfires have been aggressively suppressed in recent years, resulting in a buildup of fuel, increasing the risk of large uncontrollable fires. There is broad scientific consensus that there should be more controlled burning of forests in California in order to reduce fire risk.[23] A 2020 ProPublica investigation blames a combination of climate change and a history of insufficient controlled burning for the increase in "megafires."[9] A sharp increase in the population and development of fire-prone areas has also contributed to the increase in flammable tinder.[24]

Climate change

The Los Angeles Times on 13 September described the fire as a climate apocalypse.

Climate change increases the temperature of wildfires in California, the risk for drought, and potentially also the frequency of such events.[25][10] David Romps, director of the Berkeley Atmospheric Sciences Center summarizes the situation as follows: "To cut to the chase: Were the heat wave and the lightning strikes and the dryness of the vegetation affected by global warming? Absolutely yes. Were they made significantly hotter, more numerous, and drier because of global warming? Yes, likely yes, and yes."[11]

Similarly, Friederike Otto, acting director of the University of Oxford Environmental Change Institute states, "There is absolutely no doubt that the extremely high temperatures are higher than they would have been without human-induced climate change. A huge body of attribution literature demonstrates now that climate change is an absolute game-changer when it comes to heat waves, and California won't be the exception."[26] Susan Clark, director of the Sustainability Initiative at the University at Buffalo argues, "This is climate change. This increased intensity and frequency of temperatures and heat waves are part of the projections for the future. [...] There is going to be more morbidity and mortality [from heat.] There are going to be more extremes."[26]

The National Interagency Fire Center's (NFIC) National Interagency Coordination (NICC) reported that monthly outlooks for the entire country will still drive wildfires across the country but especially California. The main drivers through fall and winter seasons will be La Nina, and drought conditions are going to continue through California, causing the wildfires to continue. The shift will start from Northern California to Southern California as precipitation will lessen the impact of wildfires across northern California.

Arson

In August 2020, a suspect was charged by the Monterey County Sheriff with arson relating to the Dolan Fire; however, this has not been officially determined as the cause of the fire.[27][28] In April 2021, another suspect, already arrested and charged for the murder of a woman, was charged with arson relating to the Markley Fire, one of the wildfires involving in the LNU Lightning Complex fires; according to authorities, the fire was set to cover up the aforementioned murder.[29] Arson has also been suspected as the cause of the Ranch 2 Fire in Los Angeles County.

Effects

A 2023 study found that these wildfires are affecting the California ecosystem and disrupting the habitats.[30][31] It found that in the 2020 and 2021 fire seasons 58% of the area affected by wildfires occurred in those two seasons since 2012.[30][32] These two fires destroyed 30% of the habitat of 50 species as well as 100 species that had 10% of their habitats burn. 5-14% of the species' habitats burned at a "high severity."[30][33]

List of wildfires

Smoke from the Slater fire on September 8

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Notes Ref
Interstate 5 Kings2,060May 3May 7[34]
Range San Luis Obispo5,000May 27May 28[35]
Scorpion Santa Barbara1,395May 31June 1[36]
Quail Solano1,837June 6June 103 structures destroyed[37][38]
Wood San Diego11,000June 8June 12Burned on Camp Pendleton[39]
India San Diego1,100June 8June 14Burned on Camp Pendleton[40]
Soda San Luis Obispo1,672June 10June 112 structures destroyed[41][42]
Grant Sacramento5,042June 12June 171 structure damaged [43]
Walker Calaveras1,455June 16June 202 structures destroyed[44]
Grade Tulare1,050June 22June 26[45]
Pass Merced2,192June 28June 30[46]
Bena Kern2,900July 1July 3[47]
Crews Santa Clara5,513July 5July 131 structure destroyed; 1 damaged; 1 injury. Resulted in evacuations of rural Gilroy.[48]
Soledad Los Angeles1,525July 5July 151 injury, caused by fireworks[49]
Mineral Fresno29,667July 13July 267 structures destroyed[50][51]
Coyote San Benito1,508July 15July 18[52]
Hog Lassen9,564July 18August 8 2 structures destroyed[53]
Gold Lassen22,634July 20August 8 13 structures destroyed; 5 structures damaged; 2 firefighters injured in burnover[54]
July Complex 2020 Modoc, Siskiyou83,261July 22August 7 1 structure destroyed; 3 outbuildings destroyed[55]
Blue Jay Mariposa, Tuolumne6,922July 24November 20Lightning-sparked, 1 structure destroyed.[56]
Red Salmon Complex Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity144,698July 26November 17Originally started as both the Red and Salmon fire (both started by lightning strikes), but have since merged into one fire[57][58]
Branch San Luis Obispo3,022July 28August 1Started near CA 58[59]
Apple Riverside33,424July 31November 184 structures destroyed; 8 outbuildings destroyed; 4 injuries[60][61]
Pond San Luis Obispo1,962August 1August 81 structure destroyed; 1 damaged; 13 outbuildings destroyed[62][63]
North Lassen6,882August 2August 106,882 acres in total, of which approximately 4,105 acres burned in Washoe County, Nevada[64]
Stagecoach Kern7,760August 3August 1623 structures destroyed; 4 damaged; 25 outbuildings destroyed; 2 damaged;[65] 1 firefighter fatality[66][67]
Wolf Tuolumne2,057August 11November 19Lightning-sparked[68]
Lake Los Angeles31,089August 12September 28Lightning-sparked, 33 structures destroyed; 6 damaged; 21 outbuildings destroyed; 2 injuries[69][70][71]
Ranch 2 Los Angeles4,237August 13October 5Human-caused, suspected arson[72]
Hills Fresno2,121August 15August 24Lightning-sparked; 1 fatality[73]
Loyalton Lassen, Plumas, Sierra47,029August 15September 14Lightning-sparked, caused National Weather Service to issue first ever Fire Tornado Warning; 5 homes, 6 outbuildings destroyed[74][75]
Beach Mono3,780August 16August 28Lightning-sparked[76]
River Monterey48,088August 16September 4Lightning-sparked; 30 structures destroyed; 13 structures damaged; 4 injuries[77]
Dome San Bernardino43,273August 16September 14Lightning-sparked, burned in the Mojave National Preserve; 6 structures destroyed and 1.3+ million Joshua trees killed[78]
CZU Lightning Complex San Mateo, Santa Cruz86,509August 16September 22Several lightning-sparked fires burning close together across San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties; 1,490 structures destroyed; 140 structures damaged; 1 injury; 1 fatality.[79]
SCU Lightning Complex Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Merced, Stanislaus396,624August 16October 1Deer Zone, Marsh, Canyon Zone and other surrounding fires combined into one multi-fire incident by CalFire; all believed to have been sparked by an intense and widespread lightning storm; 222 structures destroyed; 26 structures damaged; 6 injuries. It is the third-largest fire complex in California history.[80][81]
August Complex Glenn, Mendocino, Lake, Tehama, Trinity, Shasta1,032,648 August 16 November 12 Information for the August Complex as a whole. Originally 38 separate fires, which later merged to become California's largest recorded wildfire. Main fires were the Doe and Elkhorn Fires, which merged on September 11. One firefighter fatality; 2 injuries; 935 structures destroyed; 5 structures damaged. [82][83][84][13]
Rattlesnake Tulare8,419August 16December 29Lightning sparked a slow-growing fire in inaccessible terrain.[85]
LNU Lightning Complex Colusa, Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo363,220August 17October 2Multi-fire incident that includes the Hennessey Fire (305,651 acres), the Walbridge Fire (55,209 acres), and the Meyers Fire (2,360 acres) sparked by lightning; 1,491 structures destroyed; 232 structures damaged; 5 injuries; 6 fatalities.[86] It is the fifth-largest fire complex in California history.[87][88]
Holser Ventura3,000August 17September 6Unknown cause[89]
Butte/Tehama/Glenn Lightning Complex (Butte Zone) Butte19,609August 17October 17Lightning sparked 34 fires throughout Butte County; 14 structures destroyed; 1 structure damaged; 1 injury[90][91]
North Complex Plumas, Butte318,935August 17December 3Lightning sparked, includes the Claremont Fire and the Bear Fire; 2,342 structures destroyed; 113 structures damaged; 16 fatalities;[92] 13 injuries; It is the sixth-largest fire in California history and scorched more than 300,000 acres of land.[93][94]
Jones Nevada705August 17August 28Lightning sparked, 21 structures destroyed, 3 structures damaged, 7 injuries[95]
Sheep Plumas, Lassen29,570August 17September 9Lightning-sparked, 26 structures destroyed, 1 injury[96][97]
Salt Calaveras1,789August 18August 24Lightning-sparked[98]
W-5 Cold Springs Lassen, Modoc84,817August 18September 14Lightning-sparked. Fire spread eastward into Washoe County, Nevada.[99]
Carmel Monterey6,905August 18September 4Lightning-sparked, 73 structures destroyed; 7 structures damaged[100]
Dolan Monterey124,924August 18December 31Cause not officially determined; however, a suspect was charged with arson in connection to the fire; 19 structures destroyed.[101][102][103]
Woodward Marin4,929August 19October 2Lightning-sparked[104]
SQF Complex Tulare174,178August 19January 5Lightning-sparked, contains the Castle Fire and the Shotgun Fire; 228 structures destroyed; 12 structures damaged; 15 injuries[105]
Moc Tuolumne2,857August 20August 30Cause: Equipment[106]
Moraine Fresno, Tulare1,316August 21December 29Lightning-sparked[107]
Slink Alpine, Mono26,759August 29November 8Lightning-sparked[108]
Creek Fresno, Madera379,895September 4December 24856 structures destroyed, 71 structures damaged; 15 injuries; At the time, it was the fourth-largest fire and the largest single (non-complex) fire in California history (surpassed by the Dixie Fire in 2021).[109][110][111]
El Dorado San Bernardino, Riverside22,744September 5November 16Sparked by a pyrotechnic device at a gender reveal party. 10 structures destroyed, 5 structures damaged; 1 firefighter fatality; 13 injuries.[112] Burned into the western perimeter of the Apple Fire on September 7.[113][114][115]
Valley San Diego16,390September 5September 2461 structures destroyed, 11 structures damaged, 3 injuries[116][117]
Bobcat Los Angeles115,997September 6December 18Unknown cause, 171 structures destroyed. One of the largest fires in Los Angeles County's history[118][119][120]
Oak Mendocino1,100September 7September 14Unknown cause, 25 structures destroyed, 20 structures damaged[121]
Slater / Devil Siskiyou, Del Norte166,127September 7November 16Includes the Slater Fire (157,270 acres, 100% contained on November 12) and the Devil Fire (8,857 acres, 100% contained on November 16). 2 fatalities; 440 structures destroyed. Spread northward into Josephine County, Oregon.[122][123]
Fork El Dorado1,673September 8November 9Unknown cause [124]
Bullfrog Fresno1,185September 9November 9Cause under investigation [125][126]
Willow Yuba1,311September 9September 1441 structures destroyed, 10 structures damaged[127]
Fox Siskiyou2,188September 14September 29Human-caused[128][129]
Snow Riverside6,254September 17October 6Unknown cause[130][131][132]
Glass Napa, Sonoma67,484September 27October 20Unknown cause; 1,555 structures destroyed; 280 structures damaged[133]
Zogg Shasta56,338September 27October 13204 structures destroyed; 27 structures damaged; 4 fatalities, 1 injury; historic town of Ono destroyed[134][135]
Silverado Orange12,466October 26November 7Downed SCE power line; 2 hand crew firefighters critically injured; over 90,000 people evacuated; 5 structures destroyed, 9 structures damaged[136][137]
Blue Ridge Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside13,694October 26November 7Downed SCE power line; 1 structure destroyed, 10 structures damaged; at least 30,000 people evacuated[138][139][140]
Laura 2 Lassen2,800November 17November 24Unknown cause; 48 structures destroyed; 4 structures damaged[141][142]
Mountain View Mono, Alpine20,385November 17December 11Unknown cause; 81 structures destroyed; 1 fatality[143][144][142]
Airport Riverside1,087December 1December 12Unknown cause[145]
Bond Orange6,686December 2December 10Started by a house fire; 31 structures destroyed; 21 structures damaged; 2 firefighter injuries[146][147][148][149][150]
Sanderson Riverside1,933December 13December 14Unknown cause[151]
Creek 5 San Diego4,276December 23December 31Unknown cause; over 7,000 people evacuated from housing areas on Camp Pendleton[152][153][3]

See also

References

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