2024 California wildfires

The 2024 California wildfire season is an ongoing series of wildfires that have been burning throughout the U.S. state of California. As of June 24, 2024, a total of 2,429 wildfires have burned a cumulative 95,562 acres (38,673 ha). Year-to-date, the number of wildfires is below the five-year average; the number of acres burned is above it.[2] Wildfires have destroyed 26 structures in the state in 2024.[3]

2024 California wildfires
The burn scar of the Corral Fire in San Joaquin County, seen via the Landsat 9 satellite on June 2, 2024
Statistics[1]
Total fires2,429
Total area95,562 acres (38,677 ha)
Impacts
Deaths0[1]
Non-fatal injuries3
Structures destroyed26 (24 damaged)[1]
Season
← 2023

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.[4][5]

Narrative

By the end of spring (June 20), the total area burned by wildfires in California was nearly 90,000 acres (36,000 ha). This early spike in activity was primarily from wind-driven grass fires, more than 30 of which occurred on several days in mid-June with low humidity, high temperatures, and strong winds.[5]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that have burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Notes Ref
School Kern1,479May 2May 3[6]
Hill Santa Barbara1,383May 28June 1[7]
Firebaugh Madera 1,300 May 30 May 30 [8]
Corral San Joaquin14,168June 1June 6Destroyed one home and injured two firefighters. Prompted highway closures and evacuation orders near Tracy.[9][10]
West Kern1,575June 2June 6[11]
Road Kern1,088June 4June 6[12]
Lost Kern3,600June 6June 11[13]
Bear San Luis Obispo1,410June 12June 14[14]
Junes Butte1,056June 15June 18Destroyed one structure.[15]
Post Los Angeles, Ventura15,563June 15
90% contained
Began near Gorman, burned parallel to Interstate 5; caused the evacuation of ~1,200 people in nearby recreation areas. Destroyed one structure, injured one person.[16][17]
Hesperia San Bernardino1,078June 15June 24[18]
Point Sonoma1,207June 16June 24Prompted evacuations of some 400 residents northwest of Dry Creek Valley. Caused one injury and destroyed three structures.[19]
Sites Colusa19,195June 17June 25[20][21]
Aero Calaveras5,285June 17
98% contained
Caused evacuations in both Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, damaged one structure and destroyed three.[22][23]
Apache Butte691June 24
47% contained
Prompted evacuations in Butte County. A firefighter has been injured, and the fire has destroyed two structures.[24]
Fresno June Lightning Complex Fresno7,002June 24
15% contained
Consists of the Flash, Bolt, Hog, and other fires. Ignited by lightning.[25]

See also

References
  1. "Current Emergency Incidents". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  2. "Statistics". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  3. "2024 Incident Archive". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  4. "Weather: Fire Season Climatology (Northern California)". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  5. Toohey, Grace (June 22, 2024). "California wildfires have already burned 90,000 acres, and summer is just beginning". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  6. "School Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  7. "Hill Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  8. "Firebaugh Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  9. "Corral Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  10. "Containment on Corral Fire increases; evacuations lifted after more than 14,000 acres burned". CBS News. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  11. "West Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  12. "Road Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  13. "Lost Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  14. "Bear Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  15. "Junes Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  16. "Post Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  17. Curwen, Thomas (June 16, 2024). "Post fire near Gorman burns 11,000 acres, prompts evacuations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  18. "Hesperia Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  19. "Point Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  20. "Sites Fire". Watch Duty. Watch Duty. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  21. "Sites Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  22. "Aero Fire". Watch Duty. Watch Duty. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  23. "Aero Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  24. "Apache Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  25. "Fresno June Lightning Complex". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved June 25, 2024.
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