2016 California wildfires explained
2016 California wildfires |
Reference: | [1] |
Cost: | >$480.3 million (2016 USD)[2] [3] |
Total Fires: | 7,349 |
Total Area: | 669534acres |
Injuries: | Unknown |
Fatalities: | 6 civilians killed, 2 firefighters killed |
Is Season: | yes |
Year: | 2016 |
Season Name: | California wildfires |
Image Map Caption: | A map of wildfires in California in 2016, using Cal Fire data |
In 2016, a total of 7,349 fires had burned an area 669534acres in California, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.[1]
Climatologists had predicted an extreme version of El Niño, known as a Super El Niño, to occur during the winter of 2015–16. Although the Pacific Ocean’s warming water had been expected to bring strong storms to parts of the southwestern United States, actual precipitation totals generally underperformed those expectations.[4] Early in 2016, The National Interagency Fire Center predicted that conditions from May through at least August would put much of the western United States in above-normal wildfire danger.[5]
Events
In June, the United States Forest Service estimated that over 26 million trees had died across in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This brought the number of dead trees to over 66 million during the past four years of drought.[6]
On August 15, the National Interagency Fire Center showed the state leading the nation in the quantity, size and intensity of wildfires.[6] A day later, on August 16, San Bernardino County announced that nearly 85,000 people were evacuated because of the Blue Cut Fire near Cajon Pass.[7] Authorities arrested a 40-year-old man in connection to the Clayton Fire, and charged him with 17 counts of arson.[6]
Fires
Below is a list of all fires that exceeded during the 2016 California wildfire season, as well as the fires that caused significant damage.[8] The information is taken from CAL FIRE's list of large fires, and other sources where indicated.
Name | County | Acres | Start Date | Containment Date | Notes | Ref |
---|
Roberts Fire | Roberts | San Luis Obispo | 3,712 | May 18, 2016 | May 20, 2016 | | [9] |
Metz Fire | Metz | Monterey | 3,876 | May 22, 2016 | May 25, 2016 | | [10] |
Coleman Fire | Coleman | Monterey | 2,520 | June 4, 2016 | June 17, 2016 | | [11] |
Pony | Siskiyou | 2,860 | June 7, 2016 | June 30, 2016 | | [12] |
| Santa Barbara | 7,474 | June 15, 2016 | July 12, 2016 | | [13] |
Border | San Diego | 7,609 | June 19, 2016 | June 30, 2016 | 2 fatalities, 5 homes and 11 outbuildings destroyed | [14] |
Pine | Ventura | 2,304 | June 19, 2016 | July 17, 2016 | | [15] |
| Los Angeles | 5,399 | June 20, 2016 | July 23, 2016 | Reservoir Fire burned 1,146 acres; Fish Fire burned 4,253 acres | [16] |
| Kern | 48,019 | June 23, 2016 | July 12, 2016 | 2 fatalities, 285 homes destroyed, 12 damaged | [17] |
Trailhead | Placer | 5,646 | June 28, 2016 | July 18, 2016 | | [18] |
Deer | Kern | 1,785 | July 1, 2016 | July 11, 2016 | | [19] |
Curry | Fresno | 2,944 | July 1, 2016 | July 5, 2016 | | [20] |
Sage | Los Angeles | 1,109 | July 9, 2016 | July 16, 2016 | | [21] |
Roblar | San Diego | 1,245 | July 21, 2016 | July 30, 2016 | | [22] |
Sand | Los Angeles | 41,432 | July 22, 2016 | August 3, 2016 | 2 fatalities, 18 homes destroyed, 4 damaged [23] | [24] |
Soberanes | Monterey | 132,100 | July 22, 2016 | October 12, 2016 | 1 fatality, 3 injuries, 57 homes and 11 outbuildings destroyed. | [25] |
Goose | Fresno | 2,241 | July 30, 2016 | August 9, 2016 | 4 homes, 5 outbuildings destroyed | [26] |
Cold | Yolo | 5,731 | August 2, 2016 | August 12, 2016 | 2 outbuildings destroyed | [27] |
Pilot | San Bernardino | 8,110 | August 7, 2016 | August 16, 2016 | | [28] |
Mineral | Fresno | 7,050 | August 9, 2016 | August 18, 2016 | 2 structures destroyed | [29] |
Chimney | San Luis Obispo | 46,344 | August 13, 2016 | September 6, 2016 | 48 structures destroyed | [30] |
| Lake | 3,929 | August 13, 2016 | August 26, 2016 | 300 buildings destroyed | [31] |
Blue Cut | San Bernardino | 36,274 | August 16, 2016 | August 23, 2016 | 105 homes, 213 outbuildings destroyed | [32] |
Cedar | Kern | 29,322 | August 16, 2016 | September 30, 2016 | | [33] |
Rey | Santa Barbara | 32,606 | August 18, 2016 | September 16, 2016 | | [34] |
Gap | Siskiyou | 33,867 | August 27, 2016 | September 17, 2016 | | [35] |
Bogart | Riverside | 1,470 | August 30, 2016 | September 2, 2016 | 1 outbuilding destroyed | [36] |
Willard | Lassen | 2,575 | September 11, 2016 | September 22, 2016 | 5 structures destroyed | [37] |
Owens River | Mono | 5,443 | September 17, 2016 | October 15, 2016 | | [38] |
Canyon | Santa Barbara | 12,518 | September 17, 2016 | September 24, 2016 | 1 firefighter killed in crash | [39] |
Sawmill | Sonoma | 1,547 | September 25, 2016 | September 29, 2016 | | [40] |
Marshes | Tuolumne | 1,080 | September 26, 2016 | October 4, 2016 | Burned just north of the Don Pedro Reservoir in the Stanislaus National Forest.[41] Approximately 30 homes were evacuated and two minor injuries were reported.[42] The fire briefly threatened the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System headquarters, but normal water operations continued throughout the fire.[43] The fire was started by a vehicle parked in dry grass along Marshes Flat Road.[44] | [45] |
Loma | Santa Clara | 4,474 | September 26, 2016 | October 12, 2016 | 28 structures destroyed | [46] | |
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2016. National Interagency Fire Center. 11 November 2017. July 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170707012921/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2016_Statssumm/fires_acres16.pdf. dead.
- Web site: The Most Expensive Wildfires in US History . High Country News. Lyndsey . Gilpin . October 5, 2016. July 18, 2018.
- Web site: 2016 Wildfire Activity Statistics. Ken Pimlott. CAL FIRE. 2017. September 11, 2018. September 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180912022335/http://calfire.ca.gov/downloads/redbooks/2016_Redbook/2016_Redbook_FINAL.PDF. dead.
- News: Blankenbuehler. Paige. El Niño adds fuel to Southwestern fires. June 25, 2016. The Journal. June 22, 2016.
- News: Grenoble. Ryan. Here's Where The 2016 Wildfire Season Risk Is The Highest. June 25, 2016. The Huffington Post. The Huffington Post. May 2, 2016.
- News: Fears. Darryl. California is in flames right now, with fires fueled by historic drought. August 16, 2016. The Washington Post. August 16, 2016.
- News: August 16, 2016 . More than 82,000 people flee Southern California wildfire . Chicago Tribune . August 16, 2016.
- Web site: Large Fires 2016. CAL FIRE. 29 March 2017. 11 December 2017. December 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171211213701/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentstatsevents_272.pdf. dead.
- Web site: Roberts Fire. CAL FIRE. May 25, 2016. August 26, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160826024257/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1258. dead.
- Web site: Metz Fire . CAL FIRE. May 25, 2016.
- Web site: Coleman Fire. InciWeb. June 21, 2016. June 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160611172454/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4761/. dead.
- Web site: Pony Fire. InciWeb. June 24, 2016. June 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160611115742/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4769/. dead.
- Web site: Sherpa Fire. InciWeb. July 12, 2016. June 26, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160626125722/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4786/. dead.
- Web site: Border Fire. CAL FIRE. June 30, 2016. June 25, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160625044234/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1289. dead.
- News: Pine Fire. September 1, 2016. Inciweb. September 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160903224901/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4830/. dead.
- Web site: San Gabriel Complex. InciWeb. July 23, 2016. August 10, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160810140700/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4801/. dead.
- News: Erskine Fire . July 11, 2016 . . June 29, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160629001926/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4806/ . dead .
- Web site: Trailhead Fire Updates . CAL FIRE Incident Information . July 9, 2016.
- News: Deer Fire Updates. July 9, 2016. CAL FIRE Incident Information. CAL FIRE.
- News: Curry Fire Updates. July 5, 2016. CAL FIRE Incident Information. CAL FIRE.
- News: Sage Fire. CAL FIRE. July 24, 2016. July 16, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160716050957/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1325. dead.
- News: Roblar Fire. CAL FIRE. July 31, 2016. July 31, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160731204604/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1345. dead.
- Web site: Body Found As Firefighters Continue to Battle 'Sand Fire' Near Los Angeles; 18 Homes Destroyed . The Weather Channel . Carr, Ada . Wright, Pam . amp . July 25, 2016 . July 24, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160725150149/https://weather.com/safety/wildfires/news/california-los-angeles-sand-fire-wildfire-santa-clarita . July 25, 2016 .
- Web site: Sand Fire. Inciweb. July 28, 2016. July 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160727192211/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4878/. dead.
- Web site: Soberanes Fire. InciWeb. October 12, 2016. August 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160809083641/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4888/. dead.
- Web site: Goose Fire Updates. CAL FIRE Incident Information. August 1, 2016.
- Web site: Cold Fire. CAL FIRE. August 4, 2016. August 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160805005322/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1366. dead.
- Web site: Pilot Fire. InciWeb. August 8, 2016. August 8, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160808221306/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4932/. dead.
- Web site: Mineral Fire. CAL FIRE. August 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160812033156/http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1381. August 12, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
- Web site: ChimneyFire. CAL FIRE. August 23, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160823201337/http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1389. August 23, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
- Web site: Clayton Fire. August 15, 2016 . May 1, 2017.
- Web site: Blue Cut Fire. InciWeb. August 8, 2016. August 19, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160819182156/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4962/. dead.
- Web site: Cedar Fire. InciWeb. August 18, 2016. August 20, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160820090407/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4964. dead.
- Web site: Rey Fire. InciWeb. September 1, 2016. August 23, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160823145846/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4971/. dead.
- Web site: Gap Fire. InciWeb. September 22, 2016. September 14, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160914034546/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4997/. dead.
- Web site: Bogart Fire. CAL FIRE. August 30, 2016.
- Web site: Willard Fire. InciWeb. September 11, 2016. September 15, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160915113534/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5024. dead.
- Web site: Owens River Fire. InciWeb. October 11, 2016. September 22, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160922203546/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5034/. dead.
- Web site: Canyon Fire. Vandenberg Air Force Base. September 25, 2016.
- Web site: Sawmill Fire. CAL FIRE. September 28, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160927131114/http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1454. September 27, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
- Web site: Marshes Fire . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160927131114/http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1454 . September 27, 2016 . October 11, 2016 . CALFIRE.
- News: 29 September 2016 . Marshes Fire in Sonoma County Fully Contained: Cal Fire . 11 October 2016 . NBC Bay Area . NBC Bay Area.
- News: McCarthy . Guy . 29 September 2016 . Marshes Fire cost $2.5 million so far . 11 October 2016 . The Union Democrat.
- News: Cowan . Jason . 28 September 2016 . Cal Fire releases cause of Marshes Fire . 11 October 2016 . The Union Democrat.
- Web site: Marshes Fire. CAL FIRE. September 28, 2016.
- Web site: Loma Fire. CAL FIRE. September 28, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160928014118/http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1457. September 28, 2016. dead. mdy-all.