US: Wildfires ongoing in Northern California /update 1

Event

Wildfires continue to burn in northern California as of June 27. The worst of the fires - the so-called Pawnee Fire - has been ongoing in Lake county since June 24, where some 5260 hectares (13,000 acres) of land had been burnt as of late June 26 (local time); 22 buildings have been destroyed and hundreds others remain threatened. Evacuation orders in the area were expanded on June 26; at least 1500 people have been evacuated. The fire was only 17 percent contained as of late June 26. No casualties have been reported. A state of emergency declared for Lake county on June 25 remains in effect.

Firefighting efforts have been more successful in other areas. Evacuation orders in Tehama county, where the Lane Fire broke out on June 23 and is now 60 percent contained, have been canceled and roads reopened. Smaller fires are also ongoing in Shasta county.

Additional evacuation orders, road closures, and power outages remain possible in areas affected by wildfires. Updated information on fire containment and evacuation orders is available on the Cal Fire 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.