Over 10,000 Firefighters Battle California Fires

Over 10,000 firefighters continue to battle 9 large fires in California. Good progress is being made on several fronts.

Weather conditions in California continue to lead to high fire danger. Temperatures across the state will remain hot, with a slight cooling trend likely. However gusty winds in parts of Northern California later in the week could increase the fire risk. Isolated rain is expected over the next day in Southern California, but it will be followed by triple digit heat by the end of the week. 

As drought conditions continue to have a strong hold on California, bark beetle attacks are killing millions of trees in California’s forests. While bark beetles are mainly native, during drought conditions all trees are susceptible to their attacks. It’s estimated that 25 million trees have died due to the drought including those killed by bark beetle. CAL FIRE is asking residents in areas impacted by tree mortality to ensure they have removed dead trees from around their homes.

Valley Fire, Lake County 
Across southern Lake County
* 76,067 acres – 75% contained
* 3,103 structures threatened
* 1,910 structures destroyed

Tassajara Fire, Monterey County
2.5 miles north of Jamesburg
*1,086 acres – 65% contained
*Evacuations in effect

Laureles Fire, Monterey County
Laureles Grade and Highway 68
*95 acres – 100% contained

Rough Fire, Fresno County
US Forest Service – Sierra & Sequoia National Forests
2 miles north of the Kings Wild and Scenic River
*142,629 acres – 70% contained
*CAL FIRE resources assigned to fireline suppression repair in SRA

South Complex, Trinity County
US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Near Hyampom, south of Hwy 299
*29,416 acres – 94% contained

Fork Complex, Trinity County
US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest
South of Hyampom
*36,503 acres – 97% contained

River Complex, Trinity County
US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest
New River Drainage, near Denny
*77,077 acres – 55% contained

Nickowitz Fire, Del Norte County
U.S. Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest
*7,509 acres – 90% contained

Gasquet Complex, Del Norte County
U.S. Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest
On the Gasquet Ranger District
*30,361 acres – 48% containment

*CalFire