SACRAMENTO, Calif —
California has seen numerous fires start this weekend, coinciding with the issuance of the first Red Flag Warning of the season due to gusty northerly winds and low humidity values.
The state is coming off a slightly above average winter in terms of precipitation, and while almost all of the Sierra snowpack has now melted, vegetation has yet to dry out in the Sierra the same way that it has in the valley and foothills. In the Sierra and along the Coastal Range, below average fire potential is forecast through July, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
The last rainfall in the Sacramento area occurred on May 4 and both May and June have been warmer than average, leading to a speedy drying out process. There is also more vegetation growth this year in the Sacramento Valley and in the foothills compared to last year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
As a result, wildfire season has started fast in the lower foothills and valley. According to data from June 17 from Cal Fire, over 66,000 acres have burned this year in California, which is almost 14x higher than the same time last year. The 5-year average during this same period is 14,460 acres.
Active Fires in California
Post Fire
Location: Los Angeles, Ventura Counties
Started June 15
Acres Burned: 15,611
Containment: 24%
Sites Fire
Location: Colusa County
Started June 17
Acres Burned: 4,463
Containment: 15%
Aero Fire
Location: Calaveras County
Started June 17
Acres burned: 5,000
Containment: 20%
Point Fire
Location: Sonoma County
Started June 16
Acres Burned: 1,207
Containment: 20%
Hesperia Fire
Location: San Bernardino County
Started June 15
Acres Burned: 1,131
Containment: 86%
Junes Fire
Location: Butte County
Started June 15
Acres Burned: 1,056
Containment: 98%
Fire Map
For a map of wildfires burning in Northern California, view the map from the National Interagency Fire Center below.
Largest inactive fires in California so far in 2024
Corral Fire
Location: San Joaquin County
Date Started: June 1
Acres burned: 14,168
Lost Fire
Location: Kern County
Date Started: June 6
Acres burned: 3,600
West Fire
Location: Kern County
Date Started: May 30
Acres Burned: 1,575
The Excelsior Fire in Sacramento County reached 100% containment on Monday after burning almost 900 acres.
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