Calif. in peril as more fires threaten state
‘Red flag’ warning predicts heat, wind gusts
More than 600 blazes sparked by 12,000 lightning strikes have ravaged California for a week. Now, a troubling shift in the weather could bring unpredictable winds, more sizzling temperatures and lightning that could ignite new wildfires in a state that has already lost 1,000 structures and 1.1 million acres.
Californians braced Sunday for a troubling shift in the weather that was expected to bring unpredictable winds, more sizzling temperatures and potential lightning strikes that could ignite new wildfires across an already ravaged state.
Firefighters have been battling more than 600 blazes – sparked by a staggering 12,000 lightning strikes – for a week. About 1.1 million acres has been torched. Most of the damage was caused by three clusters of fire “complexes” ripping through 1,175 square miles of forest and rural areas in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The fires have burned about 1,000 homes and other structures, forced tens of thousands to flee, left five people dead, blanketed communities with a pall of dangerous smoke and haze and left residents on edge.
“Tuesday night, when I went to bed, I had a beautiful home on a beautiful ranch,” said Hank Hanson, 81, of Vacaville. “By Wednesday night, I have nothing but a bunch of ashes.”
The National Weather Service issued a “red flag” warning through Monday afternoon for the Bay Area and the central coast, meaning extreme fire conditions, including high temperatures, low humidity and wind gusts up to 65 mph, “may result in dangerous and unpredictable fire behavior.”
There was the potential for scattered “dry” thunderstorms over much of Northern California, the weather service said, and lightning could spark new blazes.
Mark Brunton, a battalion chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), said the winds can blow a fire in any direction, increasing the peril. “There’s a lot of potential for things to really go crazy out there,” he said.
Cal Fire unit chief Shana Jones urged residents Sunday to take the warnings seriously. “What this means, is that any lightning that comes through ... it’s going to likely result in additional fires.
“I can’t stress enough the importance of being prepared to leave,” Jones said.
Two blazes ballooned into the secondand third-largest in the state’s history, according to Cal Fire. Among the casualties of the fires: ancient redwood trees at Big Basin Redwoods.
Fire crews made progress over the weekend, and some evacuation orders were lifted. But the ominous weather reports had officials warning residents new orders could be coming.
“There’s not a feeling of pure optimism, but a feeling of resolve, a feeling of we have resources backing us up,” Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Saturday that the White House granted the state’s request for a Presidential Major
Disaster Declaration – despite President Donald Trump publicly chiding California over the wildfires last week.
About 14,000 firefighters man the lines, according to Cal Fire, and crews have been working around the clock. “I’m pleased to report more resources have been arriving to help fight our fires,” Jones said.
Despite the assistance, “we are definitely far from getting these fires handled. We’re not out of the woods by far,” Jones said.
The Sonoma County sheriff’s office released video of a helicopter rescue Friday night of two firefighters trapped on a ridge line at Point Reyes National Seashore. They were pulled to safety.
“Had it not been for that helicopter, those firefighters would certainly have perished,” Sheriff Mark Essick said.
Of the two biggest blazes, the SCU Lightning Complex Fire was 10% contained Sunday; the LNU Lightning Complex Fire was 17% contained.
“Tuesday night ... I had a beautiful home on a beautiful ranch. By Wednesday night, I have nothing but a bunch of ashes.”
Hank Hanson