2020 California wildfires


2020 was a record-setting year for wildfires in California. Over the course of the year, 8,648 fires burned, more than four percent of the state's roughly 100 million acres of land, making 2020 the largest wildfire season recorded in California's modern history. However, it is roughly equivalent to the pre-1800 levels which averaged around 4.4 million acres yearly and up to 12 million in peak years. California's August Complex fire has been described as the first "gigafire", burning over 1 million acres across seven counties, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island. The fires destroyed over 10,000 structures and cost over $12.079 billion in damages, including over $10 billion in property damage and $2.079 billion in fire suppression costs. The intensity of the fire season has been attributed to a combination of more than a century of poor forest management and higher temperatures resulting from climate change.
On August 18, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, and on August 19, 2020, reported that the state was battling 367 known fires, many sparked by intense thunderstorms on August 16–17 caused by moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Fausto. Response and evacuations were complicated by a historic heatwave and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On August 22, 2020, President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, which provides Individual Assistance and/or Public Assistance.
In early September 2020, a combination of a record-breaking heat wave and strong katabatic winds, caused explosive fire growth. The August Complex became California's largest recorded wildfire. The Creek Fire expanded in the Big Creek drainage area, temporarily trapping hundreds of campers near the Mammoth Pool Reservoir. The North Complex explosively grew in size as the winds fanned it westward, threatening the city of Oroville, triggering mass evacuations, and causing 16 fatalities.
Governor Newsom's request for a federal disaster declaration for six major wildfires was approved on October 17, 2020 after having been rejected the previous day by the Trump administration.

Background

The timing of "fire season" in California is variable, depending on the amount of prior winter and spring precipitation, the frequency and severity of weather such as heat waves and wind events, and moisture content in vegetation. Northern California typically sees wildfire activity between late spring and early fall, peaking in the summer with hotter and drier conditions. Occasional cold frontal passages can bring wind and lightning. The timing of fire season in Southern California is similar, peaking between late spring and fall. The severity and duration of peak activity in either part of the state is modulated in part by weather events: downslope/offshore wind events can lead to critical fire weather, while onshore flow and Pacific weather systems can bring conditions that hamper wildfire growth.

Early outlook

Early in the year, there was a concern for the 2020 fire season to potentially be prolonged and especially grave, due to the unusually dry months of January and February, one of the driest such periods of any calendar year on record. On March 22, 2020, a state of emergency was declared by California Governor Gavin Newsom due to a mass die-off of trees throughout the state, potentially increasing the risk of wildfires. However, throughout March and April, rain began to consistently fall in the state, which alleviated the drought conditions. Despite this, Northern California was still expected to have severe wildfire conditions due to the moderate or severe drought conditions in the area, whereas Central and Southern California were expected to have serious fire conditions later in the year due to the late wet season and precipitation.
On June 18, 2020, climate scientist Daniel Swain predicted the 2020 Arizona wildfire season was a sign of what was to come in California, due to similar drought and weather conditions between Arizona and Northern California.

Seasonal fire risk

The year 2020 was the largest wildfire year recorded in California history, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. From a historical perspective, the average annual acres burned prior to 1850 were probably significantly larger than years since reliable fire records began. Scott Stephens, a professor of fire science at UC Berkeley, estimated that prior to 1850, about burned yearly, in fires that lasted for months. Activity peaked roughly every 30 years, with up to burning during peak years. The indigenous peoples of California historically set controlled burns and allowed natural fires to run their course.
The peak of the wildfire season usually occurs between July and November when hot, dry winds are most frequent. The wildfire season typically does not end until the first significant rainstorm of autumn arrives, which is usually around October in Northern California, and early November in Southern California.
As wildfire becomes more frequent, the wildland–urban interface has increasingly become more dangerous when it comes to property damage and risk to life.

Causes

Land development and forest management

Scientists believe that, prior to development, California fires regularly burned significantly more acreage than has been seen in recent history. Wildfires have been aggressively suppressed in recent years, resulting in a buildup of fuel, increasing the risk of large uncontrollable fires. There is broad scientific consensus that there should be more controlled burning of forests in California in order to reduce fire risk. A 2020 ProPublica investigation blames a combination of climate change and a history of insufficient controlled burning for the increase in "megafires." A sharp increase in the population and development of fire-prone areas has also contributed to the increase in flammable tinder.

Climate change

increases the temperature of wildfires in California, the risk for drought, and potentially also the frequency of such events. David Romps, director of the Berkeley Atmospheric Sciences Center summarizes the situation as follows: "To cut to the chase: Were the heat wave and the lightning strikes and the dryness of the vegetation affected by global warming? Absolutely yes. Were they made significantly hotter, more numerous, and drier because of global warming? Yes, likely yes, and yes."
Similarly, Friederike Otto, acting director of the University of Oxford Environmental Change Institute states, "There is absolutely no doubt that the extremely high temperatures are higher than they would have been without human-induced climate change. A huge body of attribution literature demonstrates now that climate change is an absolute game-changer when it comes to heat waves, and California won't be the exception." Susan Clark, director of the Sustainability Initiative at the University at Buffalo argues, "This is climate change. This increased intensity and frequency of temperatures and heat waves are part of the projections for the future. There is going to be more morbidity and mortality There are going to be more extremes."
The National Interagency Fire Center's National Interagency Coordination reported that monthly outlooks for the entire country will still drive wildfires across the country but especially California. The main drivers through fall and winter seasons will be La Nina, and drought conditions are going to continue through California, causing the wildfires to continue. The shift will start from Northern California to Southern California as precipitation will lessen the impact of wildfires across northern California.

Arson

In August 2020, a suspect was charged by the Monterey County Sheriff with arson relating to the Dolan Fire; however, this has not been officially determined as the cause of the fire. In April 2021, another suspect, already arrested and charged for the murder of a woman, was charged with arson relating to the Markley Fire, one of the wildfires involving in the LNU Lightning Complex fires; according to authorities, the fire was set to cover up the aforementioned murder. Arson has also been suspected as the cause of the Ranch 2 Fire in Los Angeles County.

Effects

A 2023 study found that these wildfires are affecting the California ecosystem and disrupting the habitats. It found that in the 2020 and 2021 fire seasons 58% of the area affected by wildfires occurred in those two seasons since 2012. These two fires destroyed 30% of the habitat of 50 species as well as 100 species that had 10% of their habitats burn. 5-14% of the species' habitats burned at a "high severity."Over 19000 sq.kms of vegetation burned affecting the habitat of more than 508 vertebrate species.A study based on patient data between July and December 2020 found an association between the exposure to wildfire smoke with increased odds of ED visits for mental health conditions.

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than, or produced significant structural damage or casualties.
NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment dateNotesRef
Interstate 5Kings2,0603 5 20207 5 2020
RangeSan Luis Obispo5,00027 5 202028 5 2020
ScorpionSanta Barbara1,39531 5 20201 6 2020
QuailSolano1,8376 6 202010 6 20203 structures destroyed
WoodSan Diego11,0008 6 202012 6 2020Burned on Camp Pendleton
IndiaSan Diego1,1008 6 202014 6 2020Burned on Camp Pendleton
SodaSan Luis Obispo1,67210 6 202011 6 20202 structures destroyed
GrantSacramento5,04212 6 202017 6 20201 structure damaged
WalkerCalaveras1,45516 6 202020 6 20202 structures destroyed
GradeTulare1,05022 6 202026 6 2020
PassMerced2,19228 6 202030 6 2020
BenaKern2,9001 7 20203 7 2020
CrewsSanta Clara5,5135 7 202013 7 20201 structure destroyed; 1 damaged; 1 injury. Resulted in evacuations of rural Gilroy.
SoledadLos Angeles1,5255 7 202015 7 20201 injury, caused by fireworks
MineralFresno29,66713 7 202026 7 20207 structures destroyed
CoyoteSan Benito1,50815 7 202018 7 2020
HogLassen9,56418 7 20208 8 20202 structures destroyed
GoldLassen22,63420 7 20208 8 202013 structures destroyed; 5 structures damaged; 2 firefighters injured in burnover
July Complex 2020Modoc, Siskiyou83,26122 7 20207 8 20201 structure destroyed; 3 outbuildings destroyed
Blue JayMariposa, Tuolumne6,92224 7 202020.11.2020Lightning-sparked, 1 structure destroyed.
Red Salmon ComplexHumboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity144,69826 7 202017.11.2020Originally started as both the Red and Salmon fire, but have since merged into one fire
BranchSan Luis Obispo3,02228 7 20201 8 2020Started near CA 58
AppleRiverside33,42431 7 202018.11.20204 structures destroyed; 8 outbuildings destroyed; 4 injuries
PondSan Luis Obispo1,9621 8 20208 8 20201 structure destroyed; 1 damaged; 13 outbuildings destroyed
NorthLassen6,8822 8 202010 8 20206,882 acres in total, of which approximately 4,105 acres burned in Washoe County, Nevada
StagecoachKern7,7603 8 202016 8 202023 structures destroyed; 4 damaged; 25 outbuildings destroyed; 2 damaged; 1 firefighter fatality
WolfTuolumne2,05711 8 202019.11.2020Lightning-sparked
LakeLos Angeles31,08912 8 202028 9 2020Lightning-sparked, 33 structures destroyed; 6 damaged; 21 outbuildings destroyed; 2 injuries
Ranch 2Los Angeles4,23713 8 202005.10.2020Human-caused, suspected arson
HillsFresno2,12115 8 202024 8 2020Lightning-sparked; 1 fatality
LoyaltonLassen, Plumas, Sierra47,02915 8 202014 9 2020Lightning-sparked, caused National Weather Service to issue first ever Fire Tornado Warning; 5 homes, 6 outbuildings destroyed
BeachMono3,78016 8 202028 8 2020Lightning-sparked
RiverMonterey48,08816 8 20204 9 2020Lightning-sparked; 30 structures destroyed; 13 structures damaged; 4 injuries
DomeSan Bernardino43,27316 8 202014 9 2020Lightning-sparked, burned in the Mojave National Preserve; 6 structures destroyed and 1.3+ million Joshua trees killed
CZU Lightning ComplexSan Mateo, Santa Cruz86,50916 8 202022 9 2020Several lightning-sparked fires burning close together across San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties; 1,490 structures destroyed; 140 structures damaged; 1 injury; 1 fatality.
SCU Lightning ComplexSanta Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Merced, Stanislaus396,62416 8 202001.10.2020Deer Zone, Marsh, Canyon Zone and other surrounding fires combined into one multi-fire incident by CalFire; all believed to have been sparked by an intense and widespread lightning storm; 222 structures destroyed; 26 structures damaged; 6 injuries. It is the third-largest fire complex in California history.
August ComplexGlenn, Mendocino, Lake, Tehama, Trinity, Shasta1,032,64816 8 202012.11.2020Information for the August Complex as a whole. Originally 38 separate fires, which later merged to become California's largest recorded wildfire. Main fires were the Doe and Elkhorn Fires, which merged on September 11. One firefighter fatality; 2 injuries; 935 structures destroyed; 5 structures damaged.
RattlesnakeTulare8,41916 8 202029.12.2020Lightning sparked a slow-growing fire in inaccessible terrain.
LNU Lightning ComplexColusa, Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo363,22017 8 202002.10.2020Multi-fire incident that includes the Hennessey Fire, the Walbridge Fire, and the Meyers Fire sparked by lightning; 1,491 structures destroyed; 232 structures damaged; 5 injuries; 6 fatalities. It is the fifth-largest fire complex in California history.
HolserVentura3,00017 8 20206 9 2020Unknown cause
Butte/Tehama/Glenn Lightning Complex Butte19,60917 8 202017.10.2020Lightning sparked 34 fires throughout Butte County; 14 structures destroyed; 1 structure damaged; 1 injury
North ComplexPlumas, Butte318,93517 8 20203 12 2020Lightning sparked, includes the Claremont Fire and the Bear Fire; 2,342 structures destroyed; 113 structures damaged; 16 fatalities; 13 injuries; It is the sixth-largest fire in California history and scorched more than 300,000 acres of land.
JonesNevada70517 8 202028 8 2020Lightning sparked, 21 structures destroyed, 3 structures damaged, 7 injuries
SheepPlumas, Lassen29,57017 8 20209 9 2020Lightning-sparked, 26 structures destroyed, 1 injury
SaltCalaveras1,78918 8 202024 8 2020Lightning-sparked
W-5 Cold SpringsLassen, Modoc84,81718 8 202014 9 2020Lightning-sparked. Fire spread eastward into Washoe County, Nevada.
CarmelMonterey6,90518 8 20204 9 2020Lightning-sparked, 73 structures destroyed; 7 structures damaged
DolanMonterey124,92418 8 202031.12.2020Cause not officially determined; however, a suspect was charged with arson in connection to the fire; 19 structures destroyed.
WoodwardMarin4,92919 8 20202 10 2020Lightning-sparked
SQF ComplexTulare174,17819 8 20205 1 2021Lightning-sparked, contains the Castle Fire and the Shotgun Fire; 228 structures destroyed; 12 structures damaged; 15 injuries
MocTuolumne2,85720 8 202030 8 2020Cause: Equipment
MoraineFresno, Tulare1,31621 8 202029.12.2020Lightning-sparked
SlinkAlpine, Mono26,75929 8 20208 11 2020Lightning-sparked
CreekFresno, Madera379,8954 9 202024.12.2020856 structures destroyed, 71 structures damaged; 15 injuries; At the time, it was the fourth-largest fire and the largest single fire in California history.
El DoradoSan Bernardino, Riverside22,7445 9 202016.11.2020Sparked by a pyrotechnic device at a gender reveal party. 10 structures destroyed, 5 structures damaged; 1 firefighter fatality; 13 injuries. Burned into the western perimeter of the Apple Fire on September 7.
ValleySan Diego16,3905 9 202024 9 202061 structures destroyed, 11 structures damaged, 3 injuries
BobcatLos Angeles115,9976 9 202018.12.2020Caused by tree touching power line, 171 structures destroyed. One of the largest fires in Los Angeles County's history
OakMendocino1,1007 9 202014 9 2020Unknown cause, 25 structures destroyed, 20 structures damaged
Slater / DevilSiskiyou, Del Norte166,1277 9 202016.11.2020Includes the Slater Fire and the Devil Fire. 2 fatalities; 440 structures destroyed. Spread northward into Josephine County, Oregon.
ForkEl Dorado1,6738 9 20209 11 2020Unknown cause
BullfrogFresno1,1859 9 20209 11 2020Cause under investigation
WillowYuba1,3119 9 202014 9 202041 structures destroyed, 10 structures damaged
FoxSiskiyou2,18814 9 202029 9 2020Human-caused
SnowRiverside6,25417 9 20206 10 2020Unknown cause
GlassNapa, Sonoma67,48427 9 202020.10.2020Unknown cause; 1,555 structures destroyed; 280 structures damaged
ZoggShasta56,33827 9 202013.10.2020204 structures destroyed; 27 structures damaged; 4 fatalities, 1 injury; historic town of Ono destroyed
SilveradoOrange12,46626.10.20207 11 2020Downed SCE power line; 2 hand crew firefighters critically injured; over 90,000 people evacuated; 5 structures destroyed, 9 structures damaged
Blue RidgeOrange, San Bernardino, Riverside13,69426.10.20207 11 2020Downed SCE power line; 1 structure destroyed, 10 structures damaged; at least 30,000 people evacuated
Laura 2Lassen2,80017.11.202024.11.2020Unknown cause; 48 structures destroyed; 4 structures damaged
Mountain ViewMono, Alpine20,38517.11.202011.12.2020Unknown cause; 81 structures destroyed; 1 fatality
AirportRiverside1,0871 12 202012.12.2020Unknown cause
BondOrange6,6862 12 202010.12.2020Started by a house fire; 31 structures destroyed; 21 structures damaged; 2 firefighter injuries
SandersonRiverside1,93313.12.202014.12.2020Unknown cause
Creek 5San Diego4,27623.12.202031.12.2020Unknown cause; over 7,000 people evacuated from housing areas on Camp Pendleton