2021 California wildfires
Smoke from multiple wildfires in California
Statistics[1]
Total fires8,619
Total area2,569,009 acres (1,039,641 ha)
CostUnknown
Date(s)
January 14–December 16
Buildings destroyed3,629
Deaths3
Non-fatal injuries22
Season
← 2020
2022 →

The 2021 California wildfire season was a series of wildfires that burned across the U.S. state of California. By the end of 2021 a total of 8,835 fires were recorded, burning 2,568,948 acres (1,039,616 ha) across the state.[1] Approximately 3,629 structures were damaged or destroyed by the wildfires, and at least seven firefighters and two civilians were injured.[1]

The wildfire season in California experienced an unusually early start amid an ongoing drought and historically low rainfall and reservoir levels.[2] In January 2021 alone, 297 fires burned 1,171 acres (4.74 km2) on nonfederal land according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which is almost triple the number of fires and more than 20 times the acreage of the five-year average for January.[3][2] The January fires were exacerbated by unseasonably strong Santa Ana winds, and some of them burned in the same areas as previous fires like the CZU Lightning Complex.[4]

The long term trend is that wildfires in the state are increasing due to climate change in California.[5][6] The 2021 wildfire season was exceptionally severe in California, although it did not approach the extent of the previous year's wildfire season, which was the largest season in the state's recorded history. As of July 11, more than three times as many acres have burned compared to the previous year through that date, with drought, extreme heat, and reduced snowpack contributing to the severity of the fires.[7][8][9] The state also faces an increased risk of post-wildfire landslides.[10][11]

As of August 18, 2021, the state of California was facing "unprecedented fire conditions" as multiple fires including the Dixie Fire, McFarland Fire, Caldor Fire, and others, raged on.[12] The USDA Forest Service temporarily closed all of California's national forests at the end of August to mitigate the impact of potential fires.[13]

On October 18, 2021, much of the state—particularly Northern California, where the majority of the significant fires had been located—received its first major precipitation since the start of the wildfire season.[14] This significantly lowered wildfire risk in the region.

Impact

Fire cloud produced by the Dixie Fire, which became the largest single (non-complex) wildfire in California history by August 6, 2021
Firefighters setting a prescribed fire on January 27, 2021 near Ant Canyon in Kern County
Fire retardant and smoldering brush in the Tumbleweed Fire north of Los Angeles in July 2021

PG&E and other utility companies preemptively spent billions of dollars to reduce the risk of wildfires and avoid an year similar to the previous year's fire season.[4][15] Firefighters have also set prescribed fires to prevent other fires burning.[16][17][18][19] During evacuations from the Lava Fire, an illegal marijuana farmer was shot and killed by police after brandishing a firearm at authorities, while "defending his farm".[20][21]

A 2023 study found that these wildfires are affecting the California ecosystem and disrupting the habitats.[22][23] It found that in the 2020 and 2021 fire seasons 58% of the area affected by wildfires occurred in those two seasons since 2012.[22][24] These two fires destroyed 30% of the habitat of 50 species as well as 100 species that had 10% of their habitats burn. 5-14% of the species' habitats burned at a "high severity."[22][25]

List of wildfires

Aerial view from the northwest of the Tiltill Fire's smoke plume, just north of the Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite

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

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Notes Ref
Owens Kern1,512May 1May 7Unknown cause[26][27][28]
Southern San Diego5,366May 2May 64 structures destroyed[29][27]
Palisades Los Angeles1,202May 14May 26Human-caused, suspected arson; 1 firefighter injured[30]
Sargents Monterey1,100May 30June 2Unknown cause[31]
Sierra San Diego1,000June 9June 12[32][33]
Willow Monterey2,877June 17July 12Unknown cause[34]
Mojave San Bernardino2,490June 17June 26Caused by lightning[35][36]
Nettle Tulare1,265June 18July 2[37][38][39][40]
Henry Alpine1,320June 24July 27Caused by lightning[41]
Lava Siskiyou26,409June 25September 3Caused by lightning; 23 structures destroyed; 1 structure damaged; 6 firefighters injured[42][43]
Shell Kern1,984June 27July 2Caused by a car fire[44][45]
Tennant Siskiyou10,580June 28July 12Unknown cause; 9 structures destroyed[46][47]
Salt Shasta12,660June 30July 19Caused by hot material falling off of a vehicle; 43 structures destroyed[48][49]
East Fork Alpine1,136July 1July 11Caused by lightning[50][51]
Beckwourth Complex Plumas, Lassen105,670July 3September 22Caused by lightning; includes the Dotta Fire and the Sugar Fire; 148 structures destroyed; 23 structures damaged[52]
Tamarack Alpine, Mono, Douglas (NV)68,637July 4October 8Caused by lightning; 25 structures destroyed; 7 structures damaged[53][54]
Juniper Modoc1,011July 5July 13Unknown cause[55]
River Mariposa, Madera9,656July 11July 19Unknown cause; 12 structures destroyed; 2 structures damaged[56]
Dexter Mono2,965July 12July 27Caused by lightning[57][58]
Dixie Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta, Tehama963,309July 13October 25Caused by contact between tree and power lines; 1,329 structures destroyed; 95 structures damaged; 1 firefighter fatality; 3 firefighter injuries. Merged with the Fly Fire on July 24. Second-largest wildfire and the largest single (non-complex) wildfire in recorded California history[59][60][61][62]
Peak Kern2,098July 20August 12Unknown cause; 1 structure destroyed[63]
Fly Plumas4,300July 22October 25Unknown cause; merged with the Dixie Fire on July 24[64]
McFarland Shasta, Tehama, Trinity122,653July 29September 16Caused by lightning; 46 structures destroyed; 1 structure damaged; 6 firefighters injured[65]
Monument Trinity223,124July 30October 25Caused by lightning; 52 structures destroyed; 3 structures damaged[66]
River Complex Siskiyou, Trinity199,359July 30October 25Caused by lightning; 122 structures destroyed; 2 structures damaged; consists of 22 fires, of which the largest are the Haypress Fire, the Summer Fire, and the Cronan Fire[67]
McCash Siskiyou94,962July 31October 27Caused by lightning; 1 firefighter fatality[68][69]
Tiltill Tuolumne2,323July 31October 15Caused by lightning[70]
Antelope Siskiyou145,632August 1October 15Caused by lightning; 18 structures destroyed; 4 structures destroyed[71]
River Nevada, Placer2,619August 4August 13Unknown cause; 142 structures destroyed; 21 structures damaged; 4 injuries[72]
Caldor El Dorado, Amador, Alpine221,835August 15October 21Unknown cause; 1,003 structures destroyed; 81 structures damaged; 5 injuries[73]
Walkers Tulare8,777August 14September 18Caused by lightning[74]
French Kern26,535August 18October 19Human-caused; 49 structures destroyed; 6 structures damaged; 1 firefighter fatality[75][76]
South San Bernardino819August 25September 1Unknown cause; 17 structures destroyed[77]
Chaparral San Diego, Riverside1,427August 28September 9Unknown cause; 3 structures destroyed[78]
Knob Humboldt2,421August 29September 12Unknown cause[79]
Windy Tulare97,528September 9November 15Caused by lightning; 128 structures destroyed; 4 injuries[80]
KNP Complex Tulare88,307September 10December 16Caused by lightning; includes the Colony Fire and the Paradise Fire; 4 structures destroyed; 1 structure damaged[81]
Fawn Shasta8,578September 22October 2Suspected arson; 185 structures destroyed; 26 structures damaged; 3 injuries[82][83]
Alisal Santa Barbara16,970October 11November 16Unknown cause; 12 structures destroyed[84]

Wildfires listed by month

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Fire Statistics". CAL FIRE. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "California's rainfall is at historic lows. That spells trouble for wildfires and farms". The Guardian. February 11, 2021. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  3. ↑ Arthur, Damon (February 2, 2021). "A bad omen for 2021? There were 297 wildfires in California in January, nearly tripling five-year average". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Powerful Santa Ana wind event kindles January wildfires in California". The Washington Post. January 20, 2021. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Wildfires & Climate Change". California Air Resources Board. Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  6. ↑ Field, Rebecca Miller,Katharine Mach,Chris. "Climate Change Is Central to California's Wildfires". Scientific American. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2021.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ Popovich, Nadja (June 11, 2021). "How Severe Is the Western Drought? See For Yourself". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  8. ↑ Smith, Hayley (July 12, 2021). "California hit by record-breaking fire destruction: 'Climate change is real, it's bad'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  9. ↑ Meeks, Alexandra; Silverman, Hollie; Sutton, Joe (July 13, 2021). "Wildfires in California this year have scorched 3 times more land than in the same period of last year's record season". CNN. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  10. ↑ Brackett, Ron (March 2, 2021). "Landslides After Wildfires in Southern California Will Become More Common, New Study Says". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Post-wildfire landslides becoming more frequent in southern California". Science Daily. February 25, 2021. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  12. ↑ Elamroussi, Aya; Chan, Stella (August 18, 2021). "'Unprecedented' conditions feed Northern California wildfire, forcing thousands to evacuate". CNN. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  13. ↑ Stuart, Gwynedd (September 10, 2021). "A New Podcast Explores How Fire Shaped the West—and How We Can Live with It Moving Forward". Los Angeles Magazine. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  14. ↑ Duginski, Paul (October 13, 2021). "Late October rains could dampen wildfires and help with drought, forecasters say". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  15. ↑ "PG&E, Other Utilities To Spend Billions To Cut Wildfire Risk In California". CBS Sacramento. February 6, 2021. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  16. ↑ "KRRD 2021 Prescribed Fire Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Cleveland RX Burning 2021 Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  18. ↑ "WDRD 2021 Prescribed Fire Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  19. ↑ "McKenzie Ranch Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  20. ↑ Cortez, Alison (June 30, 2021). "Hostile pot farmers forced retreat from Lava Fire in Northern California, sheriff says". CBS Sacramento. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Lava Fire: Officers Kill Gunman Near Pot Farms In Evacuation Area; 13,000 Acres Burned". CBS San Francisco. June 29, 2021. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  22. 1 2 3 "California wildfires altering ecosystems, disrupting wildlife habitats: Study". ABC News. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  23. ↑ Ayars, Jessalyn; Kramer, H. Anu; Jones, Gavin M. (November 28, 2023). "The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 120 (48). doi:10.1073/pnas.2312909120. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 10691208.
  24. ↑ Ayars, Jessalyn; Kramer, H. Anu; Jones, Gavin M. (November 28, 2023). "The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 120 (48). doi:10.1073/pnas.2312909120. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 10691208.
  25. ↑ Ayars, Jessalyn; Kramer, H. Anu; Jones, Gavin M. (November 28, 2023). "The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 120 (48). doi:10.1073/pnas.2312909120. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 10691208.
  26. ↑ "Owens Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. May 2, 2021. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  27. 1 2 "National Interagency Coordination Center Incident Management Situation Report Friday, May 7, 2021– 0730 MDT National Preparedness Level 2" (PDF). nifc.gov. May 7, 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  28. ↑ "UPDATE: Shell Fire now at 90% containment; nearly 2,000 acres burned". KGET 17. July 1, 2021. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Southern Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. May 3, 2021. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Palisades Fire". lafd.org. May 16, 2021. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Sargents Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. June 1, 2021. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Wildfire burning on Camp Pendleton in north San Diego county". cbs8.com. June 1, 2021. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  33. ↑ "National Interagency Coordination Center Incident Management Situation Report Saturday, June 12, 2021– 0730 MDT National Preparedness Level 2" (PDF). nifc.gov. June 12, 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  34. ↑ "Willow Fire". InciWeb. June 17, 2021. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Mojave Fire". InciWeb. June 17, 2021. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  36. ↑ "National Interagency Coordination Center Incident Management Situation Report Saturday, June 26, 2021– 0730 MDT National Preparedness Level 4" (PDF). nifc.gov. June 26, 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  37. ↑ Romero, Sheyanne (June 23, 2021). "Tulare County wildfire update: Nettle Fire inches toward full containment". Visalia Times Delta. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Nettle Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. June 18, 2021. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  39. ↑ "National Interagency Coordination Center Incident Management Situation Report Friday, July 2, 2021– 0730 MDT National Preparedness Level 4" (PDF). nifc.gov. July 2, 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  40. ↑ Jennings, Lauren. "Nettle Fire in Tulare county hits 1,800 acres, Success Fire nears containment". VisaliaTimesDelta.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Henry Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. July 16, 2021. Archived from the original on July 17, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  42. ↑ "Lava Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. June 28, 2021. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  43. ↑ "CAL FIRE California Statewide Fire Summary for Friday, September 3, 2021". September 3, 2021. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  44. ↑ "Shell Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. June 28, 2021. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  45. ↑ Smith, Hayley (June 29, 2021). "Northern California wildfire forces evacuations as blazes ignite across the state". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  46. ↑ "Tennant Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. June 29, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  47. ↑ Seidman, Lila (July 2, 2021). "Lava fire spreads as Salt and Tennant fires destroy homes". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  48. ↑ "Salt Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. June 29, 2021. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  49. ↑ "Salt Fire: Latest on wildfire burning in Shasta County". KXTV. July 8, 2021. Archived from the original on July 8, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  50. ↑ "East Fork Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. July 5, 2021. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  51. ↑ "National Interagency Coordination Center Incident Management Situation Report Sunday, July 11, 2021– 0730 MDT National Preparedness Level 4" (PDF). nifc.gov. July 11, 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  52. ↑ "Beckwourth Complex Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. July 4, 2021. Archived from the original on July 4, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  53. ↑ "Tamarack Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. July 16, 2021. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  54. ↑ Timko, Steve (July 16, 2021). "Mandatory evacuation for Markleeville area; Tamarack Fire perimeter spreads". KOLO-TV. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  55. ↑ "Juniper Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. July 7, 2021. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  56. ↑ "River Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. July 12, 2021. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  57. ↑ "Dexter Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. July 13, 2021. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  58. ↑ "National Interagency Coordination Center Incident Management Situation Report Tuesday, July 27, 2021– 0730 MDT National Preparedness Level 5" (PDF). nifc.gov. July 27, 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  59. ↑ "Dixie Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. October 3, 2021. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  60. ↑ "Dixie Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. October 2, 2021. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  61. ↑ Bermel, Colby (August 6, 2021). "Dixie Fire becomes largest single wildfire in California history". Politico. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  62. ↑ "Cal Fire investigators point to tree hitting PG&E power lines as cause of Dixie Fire". ABC10. January 5, 2022. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  63. ↑ "Peak Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. July 20, 2021. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  64. ↑ "Fly Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. July 22, 2021. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  65. ↑ "McFarland Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. July 31, 2021. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  66. ↑ "Monument Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. August 1, 2021. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  67. ↑ "River Complex 2021 Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. August 3, 2021. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  68. ↑ "McCash Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. August 6, 2021. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  69. ↑ Gabbert, Bill (October 21, 2021). "Firefighter/paramedic dies of COVID and fungal infection". Wildfire Today. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  70. ↑ "Tiltill Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. August 7, 2021. Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  71. ↑ "Antelope Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. August 6, 2021. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  72. ↑ "River Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 4, 2021. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  73. ↑ "Caldor Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. August 15, 2021. Archived from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  74. ↑ "Walkers Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. August 15, 2021. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  75. ↑ "French Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. August 18, 2021. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  76. ↑ Gabbert, Bill (September 5, 2021). "Two firefighters at California fires died, one from COVID, the other from unspecified illness". Wildfire Today. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  77. ↑ "South Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 25, 2021. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  78. ↑ "Chaparral Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 28, 2021. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  79. ↑ "Knob Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. September 1, 2021. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  80. ↑ "Windy Fire Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. September 9, 2021. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  81. ↑ "KNP Complex Information". inciweb.nwgc.gov. September 10, 2021. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  82. ↑ "Fawn Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. September 22, 2021. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  83. ↑ Vera, Amir; Chan, Stella (September 27, 2021). "Woman charged with starting California's Fawn Fire while trying to boil water". CNN. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  84. ↑ Yee, Gregory; Seidman, Lila (October 12, 2021). "Alisal fire explodes to 6,000 acres near Santa Barbara, closes 101 Freeway". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.