Major Disaster Declared in California Wildfire

Federal Disaster Declared in Lake County after Valley Fire Destroys about 2,000 Structures

California Valley Fire (DR-4240) Incident period: September 12, 2015 Major Disaster Declaration declared on September 22, 2015

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in Lake County, California after the so-called Valley Fire wildfire destroyed nearly 2,000 structures, mostly homes, killing at least three civilians and injuring four fire crews.

• County: Lake, Napa and Sonoma Counties
• Acres Burned – Containment: 76,067 acres – 79% contained
• Structures Still Threatened: 3,043 residential
• Total Fire Personnel: 3,303

California Gov had already issued two States of Emergency proclamations this month for four counties, one  for Lake and Napa counties due to the effects of the Valley Fire, and the other  for Amador and Calaveras counties due to the devastation caused by Butte Fire wildfire.

Brown had also proclaimed a state of emergency in northern California last month due to the wildfires.

Butte Fire

Meanwhile another deadly fire called Butte Fire has destroyed about 600 homes and businesses as well as hundreds of outbuildings, killing at least 2 civilians.

• County: Amador & Calaveras Counties
• Acres Burned – Containment: 70,868 acres – 82% contained
• Structures Still Threatened: 6,400
• Total Fire Personnel: 2,630

Tassajara Fire

A smaller wildfire called  Tassajara Fire has burned 1,086 acres – 75% contained  – since Saturday, killing one civilian and destroying  12 residences  and 8 outbuildings, with 1 residence damaged.

• Total Fire Personnel: 779
• Evacuations: An Evacuation Order still remains in effect within the fire perimeter.

Related Links

• State of Emergency Declared for California Counties 2ND in Two days September 14, 2015
• Raging Wildfires Destroy Communities in California September 13, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in California Counties due to Wildfire September 13, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in California due to Raging Wildfires August 1, 2015

State of Emergency Declared for California Counties 2ND in Two days

California Wildfires Destroy ‘Hundreds of Homes and Many Hundreds of Other Structures’

Valley Fire wildfire grows to 246 sqkm destroying  homes, communities, businesses, roads, public infrastructure…

Gov Brown declared State of Emergency on Sunday for Lake and Napa counties due to the effects of the Valley Fire, having issued an earlier Emergency Proclamation for Amador and Calaveras counties due to the devastation caused by Butte Fire wildfire.

“… this fire has destroyed multiple structures, including homes, and continues to threaten hundreds of homes, necessitating the evacuation of residents; [it] has damaged and continues to threaten critical infrastructure, and has forced the closure of major highways and local roads; … on January 17, 2014, I declared a State of Emergency based on the extreme drought that has caused millions of trees to die, and increased the severity and spread of the fires throughout the State; … as a result of the Valley Fire, combined with the drought conditions and other wildfires burning in the State, California’s air quality has significantly deteriorated and impacted public health; … the circumstances of this fire by reason of its magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single local government and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat …,” declared the Governor in his Emergency Proclamation.

Valley Fire wildfire continues to grow amid hot, windy conditions, said CalFire, reporting a civilian fatality in the fire area.

The raging blaze has destroyed at least 400 homes and about a thousand other structures, according to local reports.

“This is the worst tragedy Lake County has ever seen,” said Sheriff Brian Martin.

Additional mandatory evacuations were issued on Sunday.  There have been an unconfirmed number of structures destroyed. 5000+ are without power, said CalFire.

The fire started in Lake County on September 12. At least 1,234 fire personnel were trying to contain the fire, as of posting.

On Friday, Gov. Brown declared a State of Emergency for Amador and Calaveras counties, after Butte Fire wildfire destroyed more than a hundred home, dozens of structures, and threatened thousands more, prompting authorities to order tens of thousands of residents to abandon their homes.

Butte Fire Wildfire Grows to 71,063 acres

Butte Fire started on September 9, 2015 east of Jackson, burning 71,063 acres (30% contained) in Amador & Calaveras Counties, said CalFire.

• Structures Threatened: 6,400
• Structures Destroyed: 135 residences, 79 outbuildings, 4 structures damaged

Evacuations: Mandatory Evacuation Orders:

San Andreas at Pope, West Murray Creek, Lewis, Miller, San Andreas Elementary, Goldstrike, Mountain Ranch East to Windmill, Wimbledon Drive, Forest Hill, and Turner Court. Please leave the area immediately.

[Additional Evacuation Details posted at  http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1221  ]

Total Fire Personnel: 4,409

Rough Fire – Currently the Largest Active Fire in California

In addition to the Valley Fire and Butte Fire, dozens of wildfires were burning actively in the Golden State. The largest fire, Rough Fire, has scorched 138,053 acres in the southern Sierra Nevada since July 31, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

New mandatory evacuations and warnings for the Rough Fire were issued on September 12, 2015. There are 3,229 personnel currently assigned to the Rough Fire. Containment remains 40%.

The Rough fire is one of about 250 fires ignited by lightning in late July according to the Forest Service.

Related Links

• Raging Wildfires Destroy Communities in California September 13, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in California Counties due to Wildfire September 13, 2015

Raging Wildfires Destroy Communities in California

Valley Fire wildfire burns more than 40,000 acres in 16 hours

The Valley Fire wildfire is burning uncontrollably south of Clear Lake in Lake and Napa counties. The fire has consumed more than 40,000 acres in less than a day, said CalFire.

Much of Middleton, a small community in Napa Valley , is being consumed by the raging fire, according to local reports. Some 1,600 or so residents had already abandoned their homed under mandatory evacuation orders.

Evacuations:

Mandatory evacuations –Hwy 29 (Kelseyville) at Hwy 175 south on Hwy 175 towards Cobb, Red Hills Road to Hwy 29, Hwy 29 X Hwy 175 south to Seigler Canyon Road (south side of Hwy 29), Hwy 29 Tubbs Lane (Calistoga, Napa County) to Hwy 29/Hwy 53 (Lower Lake, Lake County) Butts Canyon Road to Napa County Line, including Berreyssa Estates, Butts Canyon Road to Pope Valley. Communities of Cobb, Seigler Canyon, Loch Lomond, Middletown and Hidden Valley Lakes.

Advisory Evacuation:

Livermore Road, Summit Lake Road and north of the community of Angwin.  [CalFire]

The fire is “easily detectable from space, even through cloud layer,” said the National Weather Service (NWS).

Valley Fire Incident Information
Last Updated: September 13, 2015 6:40 am
Date/Time Started: September 12, 2015 1:24 pm
Acres Burned – Containment: 40,000 acres
County: Lake County
Location: off High Valley Road and Bottle Rock Road in Cobb

Fire Conditions

The Valley Incident has grown to 40,000 acres, 0% containment. The fire is burning in a south east direction from the Community of Cobb towards the communities of Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake. The fire is also burning north east from the Community of Cobb near the Community of Loch Lomond to Seiglar Canyon Road.There have been an unconfirmed number of structures destroyed. There are over 5000 residence without power. During initial attack four members of Copter 104’s crew suffered burn injuries and were transported to an area burn center. Additional resources are on order and responding to this incident. See below for Mandatory Evacuations and Road Closures . [CalFire]

Total Fire Personnel: 1,000

Related Links

• State of Emergency Declared in California Counties due to Wildfire September 13, 2015

State of Emergency Declared in California Counties due to Wildfire

California Butte Fire consumes 65,000 acres, dozens of homes, threatens 6,500 residences

Gov. Brown has declared a state of emergency for Amador and Calaveras counties, after Butte Fire wildfire destroyed dozens of structures and threatened thousands more, and prompting authorities to order tens of thousands of residents to abandon their homes.

Mandatory Evacuation Orders 

Residents in the following areas have been ordered to leave immediately:

San Andreas at Pope, West Murray Creek, Lewis, Miller, San Andreas Elementary, Goldstrike, Mountain Ranch East to Windmill, Wimbledon Drive, Forest Hill, and Turner Court.

Additional Mandatory Evacuation Orders, Evacuations Advisories and related information posted at http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1221

California Butte Fire (FM-5111)

Fire Management Assistance Declaration declared on September 10, 2015

County: Amador & Calaveras Counties
Location: Butte Mountain Road, east of Jackson
Acres Burned – Containment: 65,000 acres – 15% contained
Structures Threatened: 6,400
Structures Destroyed: 86 homes, 51 outbuildings
Last Updated: September 12, 2015 9:15pm (PDT)
Date/Time Started: September 9, 2015 2:26pm

Total Fire Personnel: 3,852　[Source:　NIFC]

Other major fires in California include

• Gasquet Complex Fires,  Six Rivers National Forest, 29,525 acres, 13 miles northeast of Crescent City 7
• River Complex Fires,  Shasta-Trinity National Forest, 75,028 acres, 3 miles southwest of Denny
• Rough Fire,  Sierra National Forest, 117,034 acres, 5 miles north of Hume
• South Complex Fires, Shasta-Trinity National Fores,t 29,416 acres, 5 miles north of Hyampom
• Tenaya Fire, Yosemite National Park, 495 acres, 2 miles north of Yosemite Valley

States currently reporting large fires:
California (6)
Idaho (7)
Montana (4)
Oregon (3)
Utah (2)
Washington (11)
Acres Burned in Active Fires: 1,595,911

Year-to-date statistics 2015 (1/1/15 – 9/12/15)
Fires: 45,263 Acres: 8,617,473

Annual average prior 10 years 2005-2014
Fires: 55,814 Acres: 6,312,406