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11,000 lightning strikes in California caused more than 370 new fires

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – There are currently more than 370known fires burning statewide, and 23 major fires/complexes burning, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a press briefing Wednesday.

These fires were caused by a “lightning siege” of approximately 11,000 lightning strikes over the past weekend in California, according to Cal Fire.


While officials said most of the fires have been put out thanks to aggressive firefighting, there are still over 10,000 firefighters battling the 23 major fire complexes, 3 of which are right here in the Bay Area.

Firefighting efforts continue to remain difficult due to the high heat, low humidity, and strong winds that are expected to continue into the weekend.

Since January 1 of this year, Cal Fire has responded to nearly 5,500 wildfires.

With this recent spike in wildfires, Cal Fire is advising everyone to take steps to prevent wildfires, have an evacuation plan ready, as well as an emergency bag ready to go that includes all important paperwork.

Here are the latest major fires in California, according to Cal Fire:

Salt Fire, Calaveras County(more info…)
Northeast of Copperopolis
*1,789 acres, 35% contained

Carmel Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
South of Carmel
*4285 acres, 0% contained
*Evacuations in place
*CAL FIRE IMT 1 Team in command

Hills Fire, Fresno County (more info…)
South of Coalinga
*1,500 acres 35% contained

River Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
East of Salinas
*33,653 acres, 7% contained
*Approximately 2,750 structures threatened
*Approximately 9,000 people have been evacuated
*CAL FIRE IMT Team 1 in command

Ivory Fire, Glenn County(more info…)
Elk Creek 
*4,000 acres, 0% contained 
*Evacuation in place 
*Two structures destroyed 

3-4 Fire, Tehama County (more info…)
Southwest of Red Bank 
*7,000 acres, 0% contained 

Creek Fire, Mendocino County (more info…)
Northeast of Covelo
*820 acres, 70% contained
*Two structures destroyed

3-19 Fire, Mendocino County (more info…)
Southeast of Potter Valley
*62 acres, 50% contained
*One structure destroyed

BTU/TGU Lightning Complex Fire, Butte and Glenn Counties (more info…)
Butte, Tehama and Glenn Counties
*21,042 acres, 0% contained
*Elkhorn 15,250 acres, 0%
*Ivory 4000 acres, 0%
*5-4 Potters 1012 acres, 50%
*2-24 330 acres, 50%
*5-5 200 acres, 50%
*1-8 150 acres, 0%
*1-7 100 acres, 5%
*CAL FIRE IMT- 4 in command

LNU Lightning Complex Fire, Napa County(more info…)
Napa County
State DPA, SRA, Napa County
*131,000 acres, 0% contained
*Hennessey (merged fires) 105,000 acres, 0% contained
*Wallbridge 14,500 acres, 0% contained
*Meyers 3,000 acres, 0% contained
*Round 4,000 acres, 0% contained
*Aetna 4,500 acres, 0% contained
*Estimated 100 residential, 4 commercial structures and 1 outbuilding destroyed
*Evacuations in place
*CAL FIRE IMT-2 in command

Jones Fire, Nevada County (more info…)
Northwest of Nevada City
*705 acres, 10% contained
*Evacuation in place
*5 residential structures destroyed

CZU August Lightning Fire, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties (more info…)
San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties
*40,000 acres, 0% contained
*Waddell fire, 600 acres 0% contained
*Evacuations in place
*20 residential structures destroyed
*CAL FIRE IMT #3 is in command

SCU Lightning Complex Fire, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties (more info…)
Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties
*137,475 acres, 5% contained
*20 fires in the complex
*Marsh 3,000 acres, 99% contained
*Canyon 104,200 acres, 0% contained
*Reservoir 27,550 acres, 10% contained
*Deer 3,000 acres, 70% contained
*Arroyo 190 acres, 90% contained
*Evacuations and road closures in place
*CA IMT-6 in command

**Unified Command Fires**
Warnella Fire, Santa Cruz County(more info…)
East of Davenport
*290 acres, 5% contained
*Unified Command CAL FIRE and BLM – Central California District

Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
Southwest of Lake Hughes
*27,041 acres, 48% contained
*Continued structure threat
*Road closures in the area
*Unified Command USFS and Los Angeles County Fire
*CA IMT Team 5 is in command

**Federal Incidents**
Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…)
Ventana Wilderness – Los Padres National Forest
*2,500 acres, 0% contained

Ranch 2 Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)
San Gabriel Canyon
*4,237 acres, 33% contained
*Road closures in place
*Federal Type 2, in command

Apple Fire, Riverside County (more info…)
Cherry Valley
*33,424 acres, 95% contained

North Complex Fire, Plumas County (more info…)
Southwest of Susanville – Plumas National Forest
*8,441 acres, 5% contained
*Evacuations in place
*Road and trail closures in effect
*CA IMT Team 1 is in command

Loyalton, Vegetation Fire, Sierra County (more info…)
East of Loyalton – Tahoe National Forest
*46,386 acres, 35% contained

Red Salmon Complex – Shasta-Trinity National Forest (more info…)
Northeast of Willow Creek, CA
*16,255 acres, 38% contained

**Local Government**
Holser, Vegetation Fire, Ventura County/Los Angeles County (more info…)
South of Lake Piru
*3,000 acres, 60% contained

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