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Wildfires have burned more than 2 million acres (809,000 hectares) in California this year, setting a state record even as crews battled dozens of rising fires in sweltering temperatures Monday that depleted the power grid and threatened power outages for millions.
The previous high was 1.96 million acres (793,184 hectares) burned in 2018. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, began tracking the figures in 1987.
Lynne Tolmachoff, a Cal Fire spokeswoman, said the most surprising thing about the record was how early it was set, with the most dangerous part of the year ahead.
“It’s a bit puzzling because September and October are historically the worst fire months,” he said. “It is usually hot and fuels get very dry. And we see more of our wind events. “
Firefighters struggled to corner several dangerous fires ahead of hot, dry winds that are expected to raise fire danger to critical levels in the coming days. Evacuation orders expanded to more mountain communities as the largest fire, the Creek Fire, struck the Sierra National Forest.
Debra Rios was not home when the order came to evacuate her hometown of Auberry, northeast of Fresno. Sheriff’s deputies went to her ranch property to pick up her 92-year-old mother, Shirley MacLean. They met at an evacuation center.
“I hope the fire does not reach my ranch,” Ríos said. “It doesn’t look good now. It is a tremendously large fire. “
The mountain roads were filled with cars and trucks leaving the community of about 2,300 people.
Firefighters working on rugged terrain saved the small town of Shaver Lake from the flames that roared down the slopes toward a marina. About 30 homes were destroyed in the remote village of Big Creek, according to resident Toby Wait.
“About half of the private houses in the city caught fire,” he said. “Words cannot even begin to describe the devastation of this community.”
A school, a church, a library, a historic general store and a major hydroelectric plant were saved in the community of about 200 residents, Wait told the Fresno Bee.
Sheriff’s deputies went door-to-door to make sure residents complied with orders to leave. Authorities hoped to prevent the fire from moving west, possibly into Yosemite National Park.
The Creek fire has charred more than 114 square miles (295 square kilometers) of wood after breaking out on Friday. The 850 firefighters at the scene had not yet received any containment.
On Saturday, rescuers in military helicopters took 207 people to safety after flames trapped them in a wooded camp near the Mammoth Pool reservoir.
Record temperatures drove the highest energy use of the year, and transmission losses due to wildfires have cut off supplies. The California Independent System Operator that manages the state’s electrical grid warned of potential power outages if residents did not reduce their electricity use. None have happened yet.
The weather was predicted to cool down later in the day, but climate change was also expected to bring winds that could fuel wildfires.
Pacific Gas & Electric has warned that it could cut power starting Monday night to about 158,000 customers in parts of 21 northern California counties due to increased fire danger. Some of the state’s largest and deadliest fires in recent years have been caused by downed power lines and other utility equipment.
PG&E received criticism for its handling of previously planned outages. The utility company said it has learned from past problems, “and this year it will make events smaller, shorter and smarter for customers.”
In Southern California, crews scrambled to put out several fires that came to life in scorching temperatures, including one that closed mountain roads in the Angeles National Forest and forced an evacuation of the Mount Wilson Observatory. Cal Fire said a fire in San Bernardino County called the El Dorado Fire started Saturday morning and was caused by a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal the sex of their baby.
