US: Wildfires in Northern California threaten hundreds of homes

Event

Four significant fires continued to burn in Lake, Tehama, and Shasta counties as of Monday, June 25. The largest of the four fires, known as the Pawnee Fire, began on Saturday near Clearlake Oaks in Lake county. As of Monday, it had spread to 8200 acres, with zero percent containment, and destroyed at least 22 buildings; at least 600 more structures are threatened in its path. Authorities have issued evacuation orders for Spring Valley and surrounding areas. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Lake county on June 25 due to the ongoing evacuation orders, threats to critical infrastructure, and power outages. At least 500 customers experienced a loss of power due to the fire; authorities are working to restore electricity across affected areas.

Meanwhile, the Stoll Fire in Tehama county, which also began on Saturday, has destroyed multiple commercial and residential buildings across 300 acres; evacuations had been put in place for Baker Road, Paskenta Road, Wilder Road, and Stoll Road, and Baker Road was closed to traffic. However, authorities report the fire to be over halfway contained as of Monday, and some evacuees have been allowed to return home. A second fire in Tehama county, known as the Lane Fire, had spread across 3000 acres and was reportedly 20 percent contained as of Monday morning after burning since Saturday. There have been no reports of structures destroyed as a result of the fire, however, approximately 200 buildings are threatened. Evacuation orders were downgraded to evacuation warnings on Monday afternoon for the communities of Ponderosa Sky Ranch and Paynes Creek: south of Highway 36, north of Plum Creek Road, west of Little Giant Mill, and east of Paynes Creek/Plum Creek Road. Earlier road closures have also been lifted.

In Shasta county, firefighters continue to battle the Creek Fire to the west of Redding, which has burned approximately 1300 acres; it is about 30 percent contained as of Monday. Two structures have been reported as destroyed as of June 25, and some road closures and evacuation orders remain in place, although authorities have begun to lift evacuation orders and reopen closed roads to traffic as conditions improve. At least one firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the Creek Fire.

Additional evacuation orders, road closures, and power outages remain possible in areas affected by wildfires. For updated information on fire containment and evacuation orders in California, see this website.

Context

Hot, dry weather conditions and high winds contribute to the spread of wildfires, which are frequent in Northern California from May through November. A series of wildfires in nearby Napa and Sonoma counties left 44 dead and destroyed thousands of homes in October, 2017.

Advice

Individuals in California are advised to exercise caution when traveling in areas affected by the wildfires, adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities (e.g. evacuation orders), and monitor the situation.