The 2019 California wildfire season was a series of wildfires that burned across the U.S. state of California as part of the 2019 wildfire season. By the end of the year, according to Cal Fire and the US Forest Service, 7,860 fires were recorded, totaling an estimated of 259,823 acres (105,147 hectares) of burned land.[1] These fires caused 22 injuries, 3 fatalities, and damaged or destroyed 732 structures.[3] The 2019 California fire season was less active than that of the two previous years (2017 and 2018), which set records for acreage, destructiveness, and deaths.
2019 California wildfires
Smoke from the Kincade Fire on October 24 as viewed from GOES-17
Fire behavioral experts and climatologists warned that heavy rains from months early in the year had produced an excess of vegetation that would become an abundance of dry fuel later in the year as the fire season gets underway.[7] According to the US Forest Service and US Department of the Interior officials, early projections indicated that the fire season would possibly be worse than the year prior, stating that "if we're lucky, this year will simply be a challenging one." This assessment was written on the basis of noting that the state has recently been seeing consistently destructive fires more often than ever before.[8]
Wildfiresedit
The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties:
Unconfirmed cause, but reported that high-voltage SCE transmission line malfunctioned near point of origin 25 structures destroyed, 88 structures damaged, 1 civilian fatality, 8 firefighter injuries
Three people were injured during the Moose Fire (August 12–17).[79] Two people were injured and four structures were destroyed during the Country Fire (September 3–6).[80] Four people were injured during the Lopez Fire (September 21–27),[81] and one during the Electra Fire (September 25).[82] A small brush fire ignited in Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles County on October 21. The fire burned 42 acres (17 hectares) within a few hours, forcing the evacuation of 200 homes.[83] Three firefighters suffered injuries, while one civilian was treated for respiratory illness.[83][84]
^ ab"2019 Incident Archive". CalFire. State of California. 2020. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
^National Large Incident Year-to-Date Report (PDF) (Report). Geographic Area Coordination Center. October 21, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^"2019 Fire Season". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
^Morris, J.D; Cabanatuan, Michael (October 9, 2019). "PG&E: Massive power shut-off to hit 800,000 customers, could extend nearly a week". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
^"Wildfires rage in California as residents scramble without power". CBS News. October 10, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
^"Wildfires rage in California as residents scramble without power". CBS News. October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
^Sahagun, Louis; Serna, Joseph (June 14, 2019). "One in 4 Californians live in a 'high risk' wildfire area. Is the state ready for another fire season?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
^Kaufman, Ellie (June 13, 2019). "Wildfires are 'burning longer' and 'harder to control,' officials warn". CNN. CNN. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
^"Refuge Fire". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
^"Boulder Fire". Incident Information. Cal Fire. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
^"UPDATE: Firefighters fully contain grass fire in California Valley area". KSBY. Scripps TV Station Group. June 6, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
^"Boulder Fire now burning 1,127 acres - 100% contained in San Luis Obispo County". SFGate. June 5, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
^"Sand Fire grows overnight near Davis". KTVU. June 9, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
^"Sand Fire". CAL FIRE (Incident Information). State of California. June 17, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
^ abDing, Jaimie; Bobrowsky, Meghan (June 8, 2019). "Where are fires burning in Northern California? Yolo County's Sand Fire is largest". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
^"Wildfire contained near Sutter Buttes". Chico Enterprise-Record. June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
^"Cal Fire SLO Tweet". CALFIRE SLO. June 12, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
^Copitch, Josh (June 27, 2019). "PG&E power lines cause of wildfire near King City: Cal Fire". KSBW. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
^"Lonoak Fire". CAL FIRE (Incident Information). State of California. June 27, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
^"Rock Fire". CAL FIRE (Incident Information). State of California. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
^"Cow Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. September 9, 2019.
^"Springs Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 11, 2019.
^Bansagi, Natasa (July 31, 2019). "Tucker Fire in Modoc County unintentionally ignited by vehicular traffic". KRCR.
^Díaz, Alexa (July 30, 2019). "Tucker fire grows to 14,000 acres, becoming largest blaze in California this year". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
^"Tucker Fire". CAL FIRE. State of California. July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
^"Tucker Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. July 31, 2019.
^"W-1 McDonald Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 11, 2019.
^"W-1 McDonald Fire Information". CAL FIRE. August 12, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
^"Gaines Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 16, 2019.
^"Mountain Fire". CAL FIRE (Incident Information). State of California. August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
^"Long Valley Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 25, 2019.
^"R-1 Ranch Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. September 1, 2019.
^"Tenaja Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. September 9, 2019.
^"Walker Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. September 4, 2019.
^"Taboose Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. September 9, 2019.
^"Lime Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. September 9, 2019.
^"Fire Tracker: Lime Fire". San Francisco Chronicle. September 13, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^"Sandalwood Fire". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
^Doug Stanglin and Chris Woodyard (October 12, 2019). "Evacuations lifted as Los Angeles fire threat eases; 2 confirmed dead in Sandalwood blaze". USAToday. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
^"Caples Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov.
^"Saddleridge Brush Fire". Los Angeles Fire Department. October 23, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
^Fusek, Maggie (July 17, 2020). "Kincade Fire Caused By PG&E Equipment, Cal Fire Says". Patch. Cal Fire investigators determined the Sonoma County wildfire that destroyed 374 homes and structures was traced to PG&E equipment.
^"Kincade Fire: 2,000 people evacuated, 16,000 acres burned". October 24, 2019.
^Morris, J. D. (October 24, 2019). "Kincade Fire in Sonoma County grows to 10,000 acres, evacuation orders expanded". SFChronicle.com.
^"Kincade Fire | Welcome to CAL FIRE". fire.ca.gov. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
^"Kincade Fire now 30 percent contained, grows to 76,825 acres overnight - SFGate". sfgate.com. October 30, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
^Kovner, Guy (October 30, 2019). "Kincade fire, biggest in county history, has scorched an area 3x the size of Santa Rosa". Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
^"Tick Fire". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
^"Getty Fire". Los Angeles Fire Department. October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
^"Getty Fire Burns 618 Acres, Destroys Multiple Homes After Erupting in Sepulveda Pass". ktla.com. October 28, 2019.
^John Bacon and Kristin Lam (October 30, 2019). "Raging Easy Fire threatens Reagan Library as Getty, Kincade fires continue assault on California". USA Today. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
^"SoCal Edison: power line may have started fire". KERO. October 31, 2019.
^"Easy Fire". CalFire. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
^"Ronald Reagan Presidential Library escapes damage from Easy Fire amid 'extreme red flag warning'". msn.com.
^"Hillside Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov.
^Diskin, Megan. "Edison turned power back on just before Maria Fire started". Ventura County Star.
^"Maria Fire | Welcome to CAL FIRE". fire.ca.gov. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
^Robinson, Adam (November 7, 2019). "Ranch Fire's acreage changes due to better mapping, increased containment". KRCR. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
^"Ranch Fire recalculated to 2,500 acres, containment increases". November 8, 2019.
^Nguyen, Julia (November 25, 2020). "Officials: Cave Fire was set intentionally". KEYT. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
^"UPDATE: Acreage burned in Cave Fire reduced". KSBY. November 27, 2019.
^FIRE, CAL [@CAL_FIRE] (November 28, 2019). "#CaveFire near Highway 154 in Santa Barbara County is 3,126 acres and 40% contained. Acreage reduced due to accurate mapping. Unified Command: @LosPadresNF @SBCFireInfo @CALFIRE_SLO Evacuation Information: https://twitter.com/sbsheriff https://fire.ca.gov/incidents/ pic.twitter.com/BJa6z3YLYP" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^"Cave Fire (No Longer a CAL FIRE Incident) Report". Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
^Brest, Jessica (December 1, 2019). "UPDATE: Cave Fire now 90% contained, 154 reopening Sunday".
^Minsky, Dave (December 2, 2019). "Cave fire 90% contained; Hwy 154 reopens". Santa Maria Times.
^"Moose Fire". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. August 18, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
^"Country Fire". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. September 6, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
^"Lopez Fire". Los Angeles Fire Department. September 30, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^"Electra Fire". Los Angeles Fire Department. September 25, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^ ab"Palisades Brush Fire". Los Angeles Fire Department. October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
^Hannah Fry, Alejandra Reyes-Belarde, Colleen Shalby, Sonja Sharp, and Leila Miller (October 21, 2019). "Evacuations are lifted after brush fire burns near Pacific Palisades homes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 29, 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)