River Fire
A large gray and white plume of smoke rises in the distance beyond a line of trees, seen from behind the windshield of a vehicle at an intersection
A smoke column rising from the River Fire
LocationNorthern California
Coordinates39°05′17″N 121°00′53″W / 39.08805°N 121.01468°W / 39.08805; -121.01468
Statistics
Date(s)August 4, 2021 (2021-08-04)-August 13, 2021 (2021-08-13)
Burned area2,619 acres (1,060 ha)
CauseHuman cause
Buildings destroyed142
Non-fatal injuries4
Evacuated~6,600
Map
River Fire (2021) is located in California
River Fire (2021)
Location in Northern California

The River Fire was a wildfire that burned 2,619 acres (1,060 ha) in the Colfax area in Nevada County and Placer County, California, in the United States during the 2021 California wildfire season. The fire was first reported on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, and was fully contained on Friday, August 13, 2021.[1] The River Fire destroyed 142 structures, damaged 21 more, and resulted in 4 injuries to firefighters and civilians.[1] It was the fifth most destructive fire of 2021 in California. The exact cause of the fire is unknown, but CAL FIRE officials stated after an investigation that it had been "determined to be of human cause," originating in the overnight camping area of Bear River Campground west of Colfax.[2]

Background

Before the fire started, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for much of northeastern California between August 4 and August 5, forecasting gusty winds and low humidity.[3]

Progression

On August 4, 2021, at approximately 1:59 p.m., the River Fire started in the brush alongside the Bear River in the overnight camping area of Bear River Campground, in Placer County. [2][4] The fire quickly jumped the river into Nevada County, and expanded up along the river drainage towards the northeast, pushed by prevailing winds. Extreme fire behavior was reported, including flame lengths of 50 to 60 feet, a rapid rate of spread, and long-range spotting.[5] At points the fire produced a pyrocumulus cloud.

Many aerial attack assets were committed to the fire in an effort to halt its progress and protect structures and lives. At one point up to 24 aircraft and helicopters were engaged on the incident.

Fire behavior moderated in the evening of August 4 as the fire reached sparser fuels in the area of Chicago Park. By the end of the day the fire was assessed at 1,400 acres, which was revised to 2,400 acres the following morning.[6] The fire experienced little major growth overnight or in the following days, with firefighting activity mostly confined to suppressing hotspots and building containment line.[7]

On August 13, 2021, the River Fire was declared 100% contained. All evacuation warnings in Nevada and Placer Counties were lifted, as well as all evacuation orders in Placer County.[8] On August 16, 2021, all areas under an evacuation order in Nevada County were reopened to the public after residents were able to survey the damage and retrieve property.[9]

Effects

While the fire was burning on August 4 and 5, approximately 6,600 people in Nevada and Placer Counties were under mandatory evacuation orders (2,400 in Placer County, and 4,200 in Nevada County), including the entire town of Colfax.[10]

The River Fire destroyed 142 structures. Of these, 102 were single-family residential buildings, 1 was a commercial building, and 39 were outbuildings.[11][12] In addition to the 142 destroyed structures, 21 structures were damaged.[8] Four people were injured by the fire: two civilians and two firefighters, including a water tender driver who suffered minor burns.[13]

On August 24, 2021, President Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration request for counties impacted by the ongoing Dixie Fire and the River Fire. Nevada and Placer Counties were able to seek public assistance for emergency work and repairs, and individuals affected in those counties were able to request financial assistance for any disaster-related needs through FEMA.[14]

In late October, during widespread heavy precipitation brought by an atmospheric river and the October 2021 Northeast Pacific bomb cyclone, some areas that burned in the River Fire were again temporarily placed under mandatory evacuation orders due to potential for flash flooding.[15]

Cause

CAL FIRE and Placer County Fire Department investigators began working immediately to determine the cause of the fire. On September 10, 2021, CAL FIRE put out a news release stating: "It has been determined that the River Fire started in the overnight camping area of the Bear River Campground and was human caused. This is an active case, and CAL FIRE investigators will continue to work on determining the specific details leading to the cause of the fire."[16]

On March 7, 2022, CAL FIRE put out another update on the investigation. It specified that investigators had determined that the River Fire started on the brush alongside the Bear River's edge in the overnight camping area of the Bear River Campground, but did not start in a designated camp site. According to the investigation news release, "Multiple people tried to extinguish the fire in its early stages. During the investigation, items were found near the fire's origin indicating a person(s) had recently been present in the area." The report also stated that there was "no evidence to support any malicious intent or criminal charges at this time."[17]

See also

  • 49er Fire – Another wind-driven and destructive wildfire in Nevada County

References

  1. 1 2 "River Fire | Welcome to CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  2. 1 2 "CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit on Twitter". Twitter. March 7, 2022. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022.
  3. ↑ "CAL FIRE on Twitter". Twitter. August 4, 2021. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  4. ↑ "River Fire - Update for August 4, 2021". www.fire.ca.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  5. ↑ YubaNet (2021-08-04). "River, Colfax and Nevada County". YubaNet. Archived from the original on 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  6. ↑ "River Fire - Update for August 5, 2021". www.fire.ca.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  7. ↑ YubaNet (2021-08-04). "River, Colfax and Nevada County". YubaNet. Archived from the original on 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  8. 1 2 "CAL FIRE on Twitter". Twitter. August 13, 2021. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Nevada County OES on Twitter". Twitter. August 16, 2021. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  10. ↑ Shaikh, Zaeem (August 5, 2021). "Wildfire near Colfax burns homes, triggers 6,600 evacuations in Placer, Nevada counties". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Elias Funez on Twitter". Twitter. August 12, 2021. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  12. ↑ YubaNet (2021-08-04). "River, Colfax and Nevada County". YubaNet. Archived from the original on 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  13. ↑ Stanton, Sam (August 5, 2021). "River Fire: Homes leveled, thousands evacuated near Colfax as crews brace for wind". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Federal assistance for River Fire | Placer County, CA". www.placer.ca.gov. Archived from the original on 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  15. ↑ "Placer Sheriff on Twitter". Twitter. October 24, 2021. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  16. ↑ "CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit on Twitter". Twitter. September 10, 2021. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  17. ↑ McGough, Michael (March 8, 2022). "Cal Fire finds no 'malicious intent' in destructive 2021 River Fire near Colfax". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
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