Wildfire Today

News and opinion about wildland fire

Wildfire Today

Month: September 2020

Red Flag Warning Thursday and Friday could affect the Glass Fire in California’s North Bay

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories WildfireTags , 1 Comment on Red Flag Warning Thursday and Friday could affect the Glass Fire in California’s North Bay

The fire has burned well over 48,000 acres near the Napa Valley of northern California

Updated October 1, 2020  |  10:26 a.m. PDT

Map of the southern portion of the Glass Fire
Map of the southern portion of the Glass Fire at 10:15 p.m. PDT Sept. 30, 2020. Two very large and destructive fires from 2017 are seen with green perimeters, the Tubbs and Nuns Fires.

The Glass Fire near California’s Napa Valley was very active again Wednesday, adding about 8,000 acres to bring the size up to 56,781 acres according to CAL FIRE Thursday morning. The agency reported that 143 residences and 105 other structures have been destroyed since the blaze started September 27.

The growth Wednesday was primarily in four areas:

  • The north end, north of Calistoga where it has burned across a narrow finger of the Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. In this area it has come close to burning into the LNU Complex which was last active several weeks ago.
  • The west side, one to four miles south of Calistoga and Highway 29. South of the highway the fire is a couple of miles away from the 2017 Tubbs Fire. Firefighters have stopped it along a portion of that two-year-old fire scar.
  • West of Highway 29 and one to two miles northwest of Barro. This could be considered a large unburned island before Wednesday, but it is burning very actively today, Thursday. Multiple structures have been destroyed and more are threatened near Spring mountain Road.
  • The southeast side, three to five miles west of Rutherford. It has already burned into the 2017 Nuns Fire, but firefighters have not yet had success in stopping it in this two-year-old fire scar.
Map of the Glass Fire at 10:15 p.m. PDT Sept. 30, 2020
Map of the Glass Fire. The red line was the perimeter at 10:15 p.m. PDT Sept. 30, 2020. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours earlier.

The area is under a Red Flag Warning through Friday. Gusty north to northwest winds, very low humidity, and extremely dry fuels have produced critical fire weather conditions Thursday afternoon through Friday night. Northwest winds will increase Thursday night into Friday morning with gusts of 25 to 30 mph with little or no humidity recovery overnight. Breezy northerly winds will continue through the Friday burn period with continued hot temperatures. The relative humidity Thursday will be generally in the teens, with a high temperature at Santa Rosa of 96 degrees.

September 30, 2020 | 4:23 p.m. PDT

Glass Fire 3-D map 850 p.m. PDT Sept. 29, 2020
3-D map of the Glass Fire at 8:59 p.m. PDT Sept. 29, 2020.

CAL FIRE revealed September 29 that two firefighters deployed fire shelters at the Glass Fire September 27, 2020. The individuals were not injured, but several transport support vehicles were damaged.

To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Glass Fire, including the most recent, click here.

Red Flag WarningThe weather Thursday and Friday could increase activity on the blaze.  Strong winds and a Red Flag Warning are predicted for 1 p.m. Thursday through 6 p.m. Friday for 10-20 mph northwest winds with 25-30 mph gusts in the higher elevations.

Glass Fire State Park CAL FIRE Sept. 30, 2020
Glass Fire burns into Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, the Palisades area of Napa County. CAL FIRE, Sept. 30, 2020.

The north end of the fire north of Calistoga has moved into much more rugged terrain — the southeast side of Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. The last time that area burned was 56 years ago during the C. Hanly Fire of 1964. In 2017 the Tubbs Fire, west of the Glass Fire, burned exceedingly well in the footprint of that 55,000-acre fire. Most of the rest of the Glass fire is burning in areas with no recorded history of fires in the last 70 years.

At last count 80 residences and 33 other structures have been destroyed, with over 21,000 still threatened.

CAL FIRE reports the Glass Fire has burned 48,440 acres near Santa Rosa and Calistoga, California. Data from a Tuesday night mapping flight could bump that figure up another 5,000 acres.

Resources assigned to the fire include 25 hand crews, 261 fire engines, and 16 helicopters for a total of 2,099 personnel.

Glass Fire map 330 a.m. PDT Sept. 30, 2020
Map of the Glass Fire. The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite at 3:30 a.m. PDT Sept. 30, 2020. The red line was the perimeter mapped by an aircraft at 8:59 p.m. PDT September 29, 2020. To the north is the LNU Lightning Complex from a few weeks ago.
Restored 1942 fire engine at Glass Fire
A restored 1942 fire engine knocks down hot spots on the Glass Fire. Normally seen at the Eagle Field museum at Dos Palos, southeast of San Francisco, it was transported to the Napa Valley to help protect a museum member’s home near St Helena. Photo by Jose Carlos Fajardo (@jcfphotog) courtesy of Jerry Sack, Miramar MCAS Fire.

Firefighters deploy fire shelters at the Glass Fire

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories WildfireTags , , 7 Comments on Firefighters deploy fire shelters at the Glass Fire

September 30, 2020  |  3:34 p.m. PDT

Fire Shelter deployment, September 27, 2020

CAL FIRE reports that two firefighters deployed fire shelters at the Glass Fire September 27, 2020. The individuals were not injured, but several transport support vehicles were damaged.

The fire has burned over 50,000 acres in California’s North Bay near Santa Rosa and Calistoga.

To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Glass Fire, including the most recent, click here.

Three found dead at Zogg Fire in northern California

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories WildfireTags , , 12 Comments on Three found dead at Zogg Fire in northern California

Over 100 structures destroyed

Map of the Zogg Fire
Map of the Zogg Fire. The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite at 3 a.m. PDT Sept. 29, 2020. The red line was mapped by a fixed wing aircraft at 1:30 a.m. PDT Sept. 29, 2020.

CAL FIRE reports that the Zogg Fire southwest of Redding, California has killed three people and destroyed 146 structures.

The fire has burned at least 40,317 acres.

To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Zogg Fire, including the most recent, click here.

Glass Fire destroys structures in California’s North Bay

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories WildfireTags , , 18 Comments on Glass Fire destroys structures in California’s North Bay

Structures have burned north of St. Helena and on the east side of Santa Rosa

Updated September 29, 2020  |  4:57 a.m. PDT

3-D map of the Glass Fire
3-D map of the Glass Fire. Data from a fixed wing mapping flight at 10:15 p.m. PDT Sept. 28, 2020. Looking northeast.

On Monday the Glass Fire at Santa Rosa, California grew in all directions, even as the strong winds that initially spread the fire slowed. But the high temperature and the low relative humidity combined with low moisture in the vegetation combined to enable significant fire growth.

To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Glass Fire, including the most recent, click here.

At 7:52 p.m. on Monday CAL FIRE reported the fire had burned 36,236 acres. The information from a 10:15 p.m. mapping flight will probably result in another 11,000 acres being added to the total.

map of the Glass Fire
Map of the Glass Fire. Data from a fixed wing mapping flight at 10:15 p.m. PDT Sept. 28, 2020. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours earlier.
map of the Glass Fire
Map of the Glass Fire. Data from a fixed wing mapping flight at 10:15 p.m. PDT Sept. 28, 2020. Green lines represent the Tubbs and Nuns Fires of 2017.

Resources assigned to the Glass Fire include 26 hand crews, 80 fire engines, and 3 helicopters for a total of 1,466 personnel.

Updated September 28, 2020  |  5:22 p.m. PDT

map Glass Fire
The red line was the perimeter of the Glass Fire mapped by a fixed wing aircraft at 10 p.m. PDT Sept. 27, 2020. The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite at 2:48 p.m. PDT Sept. 28, 2020. The red dots could be extreme heat in the smoke column, or fire on the ground.

We have an updated map of the Glass Fire in the North Bay area, above, but it should be taken with a grain of salt. The red line was the perimeter mapped by a fixed wing aircraft at 10 p.m. PDT Sept. 27, 2020. The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite 512 miles overhead at 2:48 p.m. PDT Sept. 28, 2020. The red dots could be extreme heat in the smoke column, or fire on the ground. The fire is burning so intensely that debris and burning embers in the smoke have their own heat signature, confusing the sensor on the satellite. But, we have much more confidence in the mapping from the fixed wing aircraft.

Hopefully we will get another fixed wing map Monday night.

Updated September 28, 2020  |  2:16 p.m. PDT

Note: the map below is not current, but it is the only one we have available based on actual observations, in this case, from a fixed wing mapping aircraft at 10 p.m. PDT September 27, 2020. At that time the fire had burned 11,000 acres.

map Glass Fire
Glass Fire, mapped by a fixed wing aircraft at 10 p.m. PDT September 27, 2020.

The other maps, below, are derived from sensors on satellites orbiting hundreds of miles above the Earth and can show heat from fire on the ground as well as areas of the smoke column with very intense heat.

We know the Glass Fire has spread beyond the red lines on the map above. It is well established east of Santa Rosa and south of Highway 12 in the Trione-Annadel State Park.

Structures at several wineries have burned and others are threatened.

September 28, 2020 | 7:30 a.m. PDT

Glass Fire map
Glass Fire: This map shows heat detected by a satellite at 2:30 a.m. PDT September 28, 2020. It shows heat from fire on the ground as well as areas of the smoke column with very intense heat. Do not use for making decisions. All locations are approximate.

Strong northeast winds have caused at least two wildfires to burn together, the Glass Fire and Shady Fire. The merged fires then spread rapidly from the Calistoga and St. Helena areas of California’s North Bay, southwest into the eastern side of Santa Rosa. At 6:15 a.m. CAL FIRE reported the blaze had burned 11,000 acres.

At about 5 a.m. what we will call the Glass Fire reached the Skyhawk community on the east side of Santa Rosa north of Highway 12, and by 6 a.m. firefighters were battling it near the intersection of the highway and Oakmont Drive.

The Glass Fire started north of St Helena on the east side of Highway 29. As the northeast winds increased, a fire occurred west of the highway. It was named Shady Fire, but may have been a spot fire from the Glass Fire. The two fires burned together and continued moving southwest toward Santa Rosa.

The fire has burned numerous structures and many more are threatened. This very dangerous fire is moving faster than authorities can make evacuation notifications. If you feel threatened do not wait for official notification.

Mandatory evacuations are in effect. For information:

The fire is being driven by strong, dry winds and fuels that have built up in an area that has not seen fire in many decades. Weather stations overnight recorded humidity in the low teens and wind gusts up to 30 mph near Santa Rosa. Winds are expected to decrease through the day on Monday, but the high temperature will be 99 with the relative humidity in the teens. A Red Flag Warning and a Heat Advisory are both in effect.

Continue reading “Glass Fire destroys structures in California’s North Bay”

Zogg Fire grows rapidly southwest of Redding, California

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories WildfireTags , 1 Comment on Zogg Fire grows rapidly southwest of Redding, California

Updated September 28, 2020  |  8:27 a.m. PDT

Map of the Zogg Fire
Map of the Zogg Fire at 2:05 a.m. PDT Sept. 28, 2020.

A 2 a.m. mapping flight on Monday by a fixed wing aircraft determined that the Zogg Fire had spread south-southwest for about 14 miles and east for about one mile. It had come to within three miles of reaching Highway 36 the south end. The fire was very active at that time. It was first reported near Zogg Mine Road and Jenny Bird Lane, north of Igo.

The overnight flight mapped it at about 27,000 acres.

To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Zogg Fire, including the most recent, click here.

Evacuations are in effect, including an area west of Redding, according to KRCRTV:

Update as of 7 a.m.: Areas west of Redding are under a mandatory evacuation order for the Zogg Fire. This includes Muletown Road from Placer Road north to Kanaka Lane. Diggins Way from Placer to the North is being evacuated, as well as all roads off Diggins Way and Muletown Road.

Around 4 a.m., the Redding Police Department posted on Facebook that the fire was no immediate threat to Redding.

Zogg Fire
The north end of the Zogg Fire not far from where it started. Photo from West Peak at 8:33 a.m. PDT Sept. 28, 2020.

The weather forecast predicts for Monday 14 to 16 mph winds out of the north gusting to 24, with relative humidity of 12 percent in the afternoon.

Updated September 27, 2020  |  7:46 p.m. PDT

Zogg Fire map
The map shows heat on the Zogg Fire detected by a satellite at 3 p.m. PDT September 27, 2020.

The map above shows heat on the Zogg Fire detected by a satellite at 3 p.m. PDT September 27, 2020. Since then the fire has spread significantly to the south or southwest across Platina Road.

CAL FIRE reported at about 7:35 p.m. Sunday that the Zogg Fire southwest of Redding, California had burned about 7,000 acres.

Updated September 27, 2020  |  7:03 p.m. PDT

Air tankers currently working on the Zogg Fire southwest of Redding, California include four S-2s, three large air tankers, four military C-130 MAFFS, and two super scoopers.

Updated September 27, 2020 | 5:32 p.m. PDT

Satellite photo, Northern California Fires
Satellite photo, Northern California Fires at 4:41 p.m. PDT Sept. 27, 2020. NASA.

The Zogg Fire showed up on satellite photos soon after it started September 27, 2020.

September 27, 2020 | 5:15 p.m. PDT

map Zogg Fire California Redding
Map showing the location of the Zogg Fire at 3:30 p.m. PDT Sept. 27, 2020.

The Zogg Fire that started southwest of Redding, California at about 2:40 p.m PDT Sunday September 27 spread rapidly to the southwest Sunday afternoon. It was reported about a mile north of Igo, 8 miles west of Highway 273, and five miles south of Whiskeytown Lake.

At 4 p.m. a spot fire was observed near Platina Road and Newscott Lane, about three miles southwest of where the fire was first reported.

By 5:10 p.m. it had burned 1,000 acres, according to CAL FIRE.

Zogg Fire
Zogg Fire, looking east from West Peak at 3:46 p.m. PDT Sept. 27, 2020. AlertWildfire.

Evacuations are in effect.

Zogg Fire
Zogg Fire, looking east from Ducket at 3:32 p.m. PDT Sept. 27, 2020. AlertWildfire.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind warning for the area, for 15 to 25 mph northeast winds gusting to 40 mph, or up to 60 mph in isolated locations.