SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California has seen an unprecedented and historic fire season so far in 2020, with four of the top five largest fires happening since mid-August.
Thursday night, the North Complex Fire became the fifth-largest fire in California history, passing the Thomas Fire, which burned 281,893 acres in 2017.
The North Complex saw tremendous growth in early September with a northeast wind event. The fire originally started during the historic lightning event in mid-August.
A weather system off the California coast tapped into a weakening tropical system called "Fausto."
This weather feature moved north near the coast and created several rounds of dry thunderstorms from August 16 - 18. More than 6,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes were recorded in California, including 1,463 strikes across interior Northern California.
These lightning strikes started hundreds of wildfires across the region. Some of those fires are still burning. The largest in the state, the August Complex, is now over 800,000 acres and only 30% contained.
Wildfire risk will remain high until the rainy season begins. This typically happens by late October and early November.
WILDFIRE PREPS
According to Cal Fire, in 2019, California wildfires burned just under 260,000 acres from 7,860 incidents. Over 700 structures were damaged or destroyed and three people were killed. This follower two years of some of the “deadliest and most destructive wildfires” in California history.
If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris are completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for local warning system notifications and know your community’s evacuation plans to best prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
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