2009 California wildfires explained

2009 California wildfires
Reference:[1]
Total Fires:9,159
Cost:>$307.4 million (2009 USD)[2]
Total Area:422147acres
Injuries:At least 134
Fatalities:4 firefighters
Is Season:yes
Year:2009
Season Name:California wildfires

The 2009 California wildfires were a series of 9,159 wildfires that were active in the US state of California, during the year 2009.[3] The fires burned more than 422147acres of land from early February through late November, due to Red Flag conditions, destroying hundreds of structures, injuring 134 people, and killing four.[4] [5] The wildfires also caused at least US$134.48 million in damage. Although the fires burned many different regions of California in August, the month was especially notable for several very large fires which burned in Southern California, despite being outside of the normal fire season for that region.

The Station Fire, north of Los Angeles, was the largest and deadliest of these wildfires. It began in late August, and resulted in the devastation of 160577acres of land as well as the death of two firefighters. Another large fire was the La Brea Fire, which burned nearly 90000acres in Santa Barbara County earlier in the month. A state of emergency was also declared for the 78000NaN0 Lockheed Fire in Santa Cruz County, to the north.

Fires

Below is a list of all fires that exceeded 1000acres during the 2009 fire season.[6] The list is taken from CAL FIRE's list of large fires.

NameCountyAcresKmStart DateContained DateNotes
Santa Barbara87331NaN1May 5, 2009May 20, 2009 160 structures destroyed
Grouse Mariposa30471NaN1May 30, 2009July 13, 2009
Harden Tuolumne16611NaN1June 8, 2009July 11, 2009
Explosive San Joaquin21631NaN1June 19, 2009June 19, 2009
Lion Complex Tulare39881NaN1June 30, 2009August 21, 2009
Backbone Trinity63241NaN1July 1, 2009July 24, 2009 1 fatality
Yankee San Diego22001NaN1July 11, 2009July 14, 2009
Fork Inyo32681NaN1July 18, 2009July 27, 2009
Tennant Siskiyou32251NaN1July 19, 2009July 27, 2009
Knight Tuolumne61301NaN1July 26, 2009August 11, 2009
Wildcat Tuolumne11001NaN1July 29, 2009August 31, 2009
Hat Creek Complex Shasta112691NaN1August 1, 2009August 12, 2009
W-4 Lassen15001NaN1August 1, 2009August 7, 2009
Dodge Complex Lassen16001NaN1August 1, 2009August 3, 2009
Brown Shasta10001NaN1August 2, 2009August 12, 2009
Fairfield Shasta16641NaN1August 2, 2009August 21, 2009
Chalk (Shu Complex) Shasta68951NaN1August 3, 2009August 16, 2009
Goose (Shu Complex) Shasta39181NaN1August 3, 2009August 17, 2009
Cassel (Shu Complex) Shasta63191NaN1August 3, 2009August 14, 2009
Santa Barbara894891NaN1August 8, 2009August 23, 2009 2 structures destroyed
Santa Cruz78171NaN1August 12, 2009August 23, 2009 13 structures destroyed
Coffin Trinity13001NaN1August 12, 2009August 15, 2009
Corral San Joaquin122001NaN1August 13, 2009August 16, 2009
Yuba Yuba38911NaN1August 14, 2009August 24, 2009
Red Rock Siskiyou13641NaN1August 21, 2009September 4, 2009
Morris Los Angeles21681NaN1August 25, 2009September 3, 2009
Bryson Monterey33831NaN1August 25, 2009August 29, 2009
Los Angeles1605771NaN1August 26, 2009October 16, 2009 209 structures destroyed; 2 firefighter fatalities
Big Meadows Mariposa74251NaN1August 26, 2009September 10, 2009
Gloria Monterey64371NaN1August 27, 2009September 1, 2009
Cottonwood Riverside24091NaN1August 27, 2009August 31, 2009
Pacheco Santa Clara16001NaN1August 29, 2009August 30, 2009
Oak Glen III San Bernardino11591NaN1August 30, 2009September 8, 2009
Oasis Lake15001NaN1September 7, 2009September 12, 2009
Ventura175001NaN1September 22, 2009October 1, 2009
Six Yolo12351NaN1October 1, 2009October 1, 2009
Sheep San Bernardino71281NaN1October 3, 2009October 10, 2009
Mill Creek #4 Humboldt27501NaN1October 7, 2009October 17, 2009

Weather conditions

Invasive, non-native vegetation dies and re-sprouts year after year creating an unnatural buildup of dead plant material.[7] While periodic fires are natural, and many native plants depend upon fire to reproduce;[8] the intensity and frequency of these fires is altered by the presence of non-natives.

In Southern California, the normal wildfire season begins in October, with the arrival of the infamous Santa Ana winds, and it is unusual to see fires spread so rapidly during other times of year. However, temperatures throughout the southern part of the state exceeded 100 °F (38 °C) for much of late August. The combination of high temperatures, low humidity and a large quantity of tinder-dry fuel, some of which had not burnt for decades, allowed some of the normal fires to quickly explode out of control despite the lack of winds to spread the flames. These conditions, along with extreme terrain in many undeveloped areas that slowed access to burn areas, made firefighting difficult.

Notable fires

Dozens of fires burned throughout California in August 2009. Some of the most notable are listed here.

Northern California

Alameda County

Mariposa County

Placer County

Santa Cruz/Monterey/San Benito Counties

Yuba County

Southern California

Los Angeles County

San Bernardino County

Santa Barbara County

Ventura County

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2009. National Interagency Fire Center. 19 August 2015. 27 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190627145539/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2009_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf. dead.
  2. Web site: CAL FIRE 2009 Wildland Fire Summary. CalFire. September 2011. December 11, 2017. November 18, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161118220058/http://calfire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/2009Summary.pdf. dead.
  3. http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current Current Fire Information
  4. News: Wildfire spreads along 241 toll road just east of Anaheim Hills [Updated] ]. Los Angeles Times . November 24, 2009 . November 25, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091128081226/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/wildfire-spreads-along-241-toll-road-just-east-of-anahiem-hills.html . November 28, 2009 . live .
  5. Web site: Wildland Fire Accidents and Fatalities by Year. https://web.archive.org/web/20080917060451/http://www.nifc.gov/safety/reports/year.pdf. dead. September 17, 2008. National Interagency Fire Center. 28 August 2015.
  6. Web site: Large Fires 2009. CAL FIRE. 20 August 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305023031/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentstatsevents_178.pdf. dead.
  7. Web site: Wildland fire in ecosystems: fire and nonnative invasive plants . Zouhar . Kristin . Smith . Jane Kapler . Sutherland . Steve . Brooks . Matthew L. . 2008 . [United States Forest Service] . February 17, 2011.
  8. Web site: Ainsworth . Jack . Doss . Troy Alan . Natural History of Fire & Flood Cycles . 1995 . California Coastal Commission . February 17, 2011.
  9. Web site: Corral Fire . August 18, 2009 . . September 3, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090824000106/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=363. August 24, 2009 . live.
  10. News: Salonga . Robert. . August 17, 2009 . Corral fire fully contained after burning 12,500 acres . . September 3, 2009 . March 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001425/http://www.insidebayarea.com/livermore/ci_13143709 . dead .
  11. Web site: Big Meadow Wildfire . September 4, 2009 . InciWeb (United States Forest Service) . September 5, 2009 .
  12. Web site: A Note From Yosemite's Superintendent . August 29, 2009 . InciWeb (United States Forest Service) . September 3, 2009 . September 17, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160917064007/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/9328/ . dead .
  13. Web site: CalFIRE . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . Mammoth Fire Fire Incident Information . July 18, 2009 . September 12, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090720065454/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=340 . July 20, 2009 . live .
  14. Web site: CalFIRE . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . Foresthill Fire Fire Incident Information . August 28, 2009 . September 3, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090830183303/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=375 . August 30, 2009 . live .
  15. Web site: Forty Nine (49) Fire . September 2, 2009 . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) . September 3, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090904020700/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=380. September 4, 2009 . live.
  16. Web site: Placer County Community Development Department . Aerial photo & map of 49 Fire . September 12, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090921134213/http://www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/CommunityDevelopment/~/media/cdr/49_Fire/Aerial_FortyNineFire.ashx . September 21, 2009 . dead . (map)
  17. Web site: Fox40 News: Couple Tours Their Burned Out Home . 28 August 2018 . Fox 40 KTXL . Sacramento . September 12, 2009 .
  18. Web site: Firefighters Fully Contain the 49 Fire . Thomas . Ayesha . Johnson . C. . September 1, 2009 . KXTV (ABC Channel 10) . September 3, 2009.
  19. Web site: Gabbert . Bill . Lockheed fire near Santa Cruz, CA . August 13, 2009 . Wildfire Today . September 3, 2009.
  20. Web site: Squires . Jennifer . Jones . Donna . Alexander . Kurtis . Kelly . Cathy . Bookwalter . Genevieve . Walsh . Austin . Lockheed Fire update: No containment; Bonny Doon evacuated; McCrary home saved . August 13, 2009 . . September 3, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091016211507/http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_13052532 . October 16, 2009 . dead . mdy-all .
  21. Web site: Lockheed Fire Incident Information . August 23, 2009 . . September 3, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090907141713/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=361. September 7, 2009 . live.
  22. Web site: State of Emergency As Lockheed Fire Rages . August 14, 2009 . KPIX-TV (CBS Channel 5) . September 3, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090817231914/http://cbs5.com/local/bonny.doon.fire.2.1128496.html . 2009-08-17 . dead .
  23. Web site: Bookwalter . Genevieve . Scientists excited about new rare plants: recent flames could prompt explosion of manzanita species found nowhere else . August 19, 2009 . . September 3, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090825184512/http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_13156080 . August 25, 2009 . dead . mdy-all .
  24. Web site: Bryson Fire . August 28, 2009 . . September 3, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090917163327/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=368. September 17, 2009 . live.
  25. Web site: Firefighters battling fierce heat, dry fuels in 4,000-acre Bryson Fire . August 28, 2009 . KSBY-TV (NBC Channel 6) . September 3, 2009 .
  26. Web site: Gloria Fire . August 31, 2009 . . September 3, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090830183258/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=374. August 30, 2009 . live.
  27. Web site: CAL FIRE investigators focus on vineyard as cause of Gloria Fire near Soledad . Solana . Kimber. . September 1, 2009 . The Californian . September 3, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090907131554/http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20090901/NEWS01/909010305 . 2009-09-07 . dead .
  28. http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=402 Loma Fire Incident Information
  29. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_13635655 600-acre Loma Fire now 20 percent contained
  30. [NOAA-17]
  31. Web site: Yuba Fire . August 23, 2009 . . September 3, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090823233901/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=364. August 23, 2009 . live.
  32. News: Grigsby . Jared. . Difficult terrain works against Calif. fire crews . August 16, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090819234133/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g4rSxtb6hFEjzSiMFwAKeOSyEC9gD9A3RCB80 . dead . August 19, 2009 . Associated Press. September 3, 2009 .
  33. Web site: Morris Fire . September 3, 2009 . InciWeb (United States Forest Service) . September 5, 2009 . December 23, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091223231550/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/1852/ . dead .
  34. Web site: Morris Fire was arson, official says . August 30, 2009 . . September 3, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090908063757/http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_13235066 . 2009-09-08 . dead .
  35. http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/9640/ Station Fire Update Sept. 27, 2009
  36. Web site: New fire breaks out near Angeles Crest Highway; forces road closure . August 26, 2009 . . September 3, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090908063659/http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/rds_search/ci_13209642?IADID=Search-www.pasadenastarnews.com-www.pasadenastarnews.com . September 8, 2009 .
  37. Web site: Station Fire . September 4, 2009 . InciWeb (United States Forest Service) . September 5, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090904003251/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/1856/. September 4, 2009 . live.
  38. Web site: Firefighters Killed in 'Station Fire' Remembered . September 1, 2009 . KTLA-TV (Channel 5) . September 3, 2009 . July 24, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110724101900/http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-firefighters-bio,0,7708207.story . dead .
  39. http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/1910/ Sheep Fire
  40. News: Below-freezing temps help in fight against Sheep fire [Updated] ]. Los Angeles Times . October 6, 2009 . October 7, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091008213417/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/10/belowfreezing-temps-help-in-fight-against-sheep-fire.html . October 8, 2009 . live .
  41. http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/9742/ Sheep Fire Update Friday October 9 8:00 Am
  42. Web site: CAL FIRE - Home . 2014-05-30 . 2015-09-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150914182345/http://www.fire.ca.gov/index_incidents_jesusita.php . dead .
  43. News: Womack . Sam. . August 17, 2009 . Crews work into the night to corral wildfire . Santa Maria Times . September 3, 2009 .
  44. Web site: La Brea Fire . September 1, 2009 . InciWeb (United States Forest Service) . September 3, 2009 . September 17, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160917053731/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/1803/ . dead .
  45. News: State of emergency declared in California wildfire. CNN. September 23, 2009. September 23, 2009.