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While California is not out of the woods yet, the situation with the raging wildfires appears to be slightly improving.
The Latest Cal Fire Report: There are still over 14,000 firefighters going to battle against the flames. As of Friday morning, there are 20 major wildfires burning across the state. Fire crews responded to 14 new fires on Thursday, swiftly containing all of them. Since the 2020 season began, the state has seen more than 8,400 wildfires. These fires have charred over 4 million acres, killed 31 individuals, and destroyed over 9,200 structures.
Current Fire Weather Watch:
A fire weather watch will go into effect on Saturday for an area stretching from Southern Modoc County south to Inyo County along the eastern side of the Sierra Mountains. Residents need to be aware of gusty winds and low levels of humidity.
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Despite this watch, the majority of the state will enjoy cooler temperatures and rising humidity levels today and throughout the weekend. Fire officials are hopeful that they can take advantage of these favorable conditions to bring more containment to the state’s most stubborn fires. While forecasters were once hopeful that the region would see significant rainfall over the weekend, that chance is looking less likely now. There is a small window of opportunity to make progress on the blazes. Next week will see warmer and drier conditions throughout the majority of the state.
Zogg Fire Victims Identified: Two of the four victims of the Zogg Fire were identified on Thursday. According to the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, 45-year-old Alaina Michelle Rowe was discovered on a road on September 28. She was found with her deceased 8-year-old daughter. Previously, authorities had identified Karin King, 79, and Kenneth Vossen, 52, as victims of the fire. King was found dead on the road where the fire first started, presumably trying to escape. Vossen suffered serious burns and passed away at a later time at the hospital as a result of the injuries. All of the victims are from the town of Igo.
Status of California’s Biggest Fires:
- Zogg Fire – Located in Shasta County in Northern California, fire crews have made significant progress in the containment of the Zogg Fire. This blaze has burned over 56,000 acres but is 95% contained.
- Glass Fire – This massive blaze in Napa and Sonoma counties has drained resources for the last few weeks, as crews scramble to bring containment and spare California’s famed wine district. The fire is now 74% contained after burning over 67,000 acres.
- Creek Fire – The gigantic Creek Fire continues to give firefighters problems. The blaze has now grown to over 331,000 acres and is only 49% contained. Evacuations are still in place for the fire that began over Labor Day weekend in the Sierra National Forest.
- August Complex Fire – What is now being referred to as a gigafire is living up to its name. Burning throughout Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Tehama, and Trinity counties, the August Complex Fire has burned over 1,021,500 acres and is 65% contained. The fire has destroyed 210 structures and claimed one life.
- Bobcat Fire – Burning in Los Angeles County, the Bobcat Fire is nearing its end. While the blaze is responsible for the destruction of over 115,000 acres, it is now 90% contained and firefighters continue to make progress. The fire just barely spared the famous Wilson Observatory and its high-tech telescopes.
Spare the Air: On Thursday, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District extended the current Spare the Air alert through Saturday. This extension marks the 47th and 48th days that an alert has been issued in the year 2020. Under this alert, it is illegal to burn wood or fuel. The previous record for Spare the Air alerts was set in 2017 with 46 days. The primary culprit of the alert is the Glass Fire in Napa and Sonoma counties.
