Hundreds of wildfires swept across California on Wednesday, with nearly two dozen considered large as well as complex, Govin Newsom said, as the state faces evacuations and disturbing conditions.
A historic heat wave and persistent wind have complicated firefighters’ efforts, according to the mayor’s office. The National Water Service issued warnings for red flags over the Central Valley, northeastern California and northwestern Nevada, indicating a high fire hazard until at least Thursday night. Large parts of the state are also under too high warnings.
Bill Nichols, 84, is working to save his home when the LNU Lightning Complex fires through Vacaville, California, on August 19. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
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The fight against the wildfires turned deadly when a water-dropping helicopter crashed Wednesday morning in western Fresno County, according to state officials from the fire.
The Bell UH-1H pilot died in the crash about nine miles south of Coalinga while fighting the Hills Fire, authorities said. There was only one person on board.
As the fires continued to shake wide swaths of the state, the California Department of State Forest Management and Fire Protection (Cal-Fire) urged residents to provide their families with preparations and evacuation plans.
“There is no question … the total number of fires last year was substantially lower than the activity we are experiencing this year,” Newsom said at a news conference on Wednesday.
He declared a statewide emergency on Tuesday as crews battled flames across the Golden State, paving the way for federal relief and mutual aid from other states.
The number of fires – more than 360 in the state since Wednesday afternoon, 23 of them considered large and complex – has knocked out respondents’ sources and forced evacuations in multiple communities, Newsom said.
Some of them have followed more than 10,000 lightning strikes during record hits in the last three days, according to Newsom. He also said they do not look as serious as last year’s deadly Camp Fire as the massive Kincade Fire.
“We are looking forward to things cooling down on the West Coast,” he said, not only because of favorable weather conditions firefighters could help control the flames, but also to help the state’s energy supply.
In addition to the risk of fire, the heat wave also led to rolling blackouts, and Newsom urged residents to set air conditioners above 78 degrees to maintain power. Utilities also asked residents to voluntarily save energy.
According to the National Weather Service, a cold front of the Pacific Ocean is expected to move within the next few days to provide relief to Northern California.
“That said, we are in a better state of readiness,” he added, citing some of the state’s recent forest and vegetation management efforts, as well as new funding to hire more firefighters.
Mutual aid units inside and outside the state were deployed to help contain the fire.
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“California, and its federal and local partners are working in lockstep to meet the challenge and remain vigilant in the face of continuing dangerous weather conditions,” Newsom said.
Separately, he also announced that the state would receive federal aid for the Carmel Fire in Monterey County, which has shaken 1,200 acres a day since it erupted and threatened to spread.
Matt Nichols tries to save his home when the LNU Lightning Complex fires through Vacaville, California, tear down on August 19th. Firefighters crawled across the area to contain dozens of fires caused by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
Major fires include the Apple Fire around Riverside County, which Newsom said now contained 95 percent – as well as the Lake, Loyalton and Holser fires, which all contained at least 30 percent.
“They’re still active, they’re big fires, but we’re seeing something really contained,” he said. “We are seeing real progress.”
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Some are fire complexes, which contain multiple fires that are separate from each other but burning around the same geographic locations, including the new fires of CZU August and LNU Lightning Complex – still containing zero – at San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Lake and Napa counties on Wednesday afternoon.
Evacuation orders and warnings were issued in parts of those communities, according to Cal-Fire, which affected thousands. At least 50 structures have already been destroyed, and hundreds more are still in danger.
In some parts of the state, where firefighters have made progress with the fire, authorities have begun revoking evacuation orders, including around Morgan Territory and Marsh Creek Road in Contra Costa County.
