Above: The Suomi Joint Polar Satellite System captured this photo of smoke from bush fires in New South Wales, Australia, November 8, 2019. The red areas represent heat.
Large, rapidly spreading bushfires that swept through areas in Australia Friday are being described as “unprecedented”. Saturday morning, local time, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) said at least 100 homes have recently burned in 42 fires that are still uncontained across the state. More than 30 people have been injured.
Saturday morning the NWS RFS said, “Fire activity has eased across some firegrounds. Nine fires are now at Emergency Warning and nine are at Watch and Act. We are still seeing erratic and dangerous fire behaviour across the remainder of fire grounds, which continues to pose a threat to homes.”
Queensland is also experiencing fires. Evacuation notices were issued Friday night for Lower Beechmont in the Gold Coast hinterland, Noosa North, and Thornton, west of Brisbane.
The fire has burned 2,534 acres 21 miles southwest of Red Bluff, Calif.
Map of the Ranch Fire November 8, 2019. CAL FIRE map cropped by Wildfire Today.
10:58 a.m. PST November 8, 2019
Firefighters working on the Ranch Fire have completed a control line around almost half of the perimeter (see map above). Satellites have not detected very many large sources of heat on the western three-quarters of the incident for a couple of days.
The fire is 21 miles southwest of Red Bluff, California and one mile east of the Mendocino National Forest.
Evacuations are still in effect along Colyear Springs Road from Red Bank Road to the Mendocino National Forest Boundary.
CAL FIRE reports that the fire has burned 2,534 acres, which is a reduction from 3,768 acres due to more accurate mapping.
Resources assigned to the fire include 65 fire engines, 10 water tenders, 36 hand crews, 5 helicopters, and 13 dozers for a total of 1,123 personnel.
Two strike teams—Team 3 from Linn County & Team 10 from Clackamas County, who have been at the 3,768-acre #RanchFire near Red Bluff, California—have been demobilized & are returning to Oregon today. @OSFMpic.twitter.com/ODpfh5G1IN
#USFS has 366 people (firefighters, handcrews, pilots) and 35 resources (aircraft, engines, dozers) actively assisting our local and county partners with ongoing fires. We’re ready to add 632 people and 53 resources if needed. #OneTeamOneFight#CaliforniaWildfirespic.twitter.com/Vj5D6rGEjQ
Overnight photos from our crews on the #RanchFire. They are doing well & working hard as they work the fireline. They are working with another Cal Fire strike team as they hold a line at the creek bottom & chase spot fires throughout the night. pic.twitter.com/pyOnVYJehw
Map showing heat detected by a satellite on the Ranch Fire at 1:06 p.m. PDT Nov. 4, 2019.
UPDATED at 6:42 p.m. PDT Nov. 4, 2019
CAL FIRE reported Monday at 6:25 p.m. that the Ranch Fire 21 miles southwest of Red Bluff, California has burned 1,308 acres. Early Monday morning it was 550 acres.
The fire was very active Monday afternoon as firefighters on the ground were assisted by numerous air tankers and helicopters.
The fire was originally reported at Colyer Springs Road and Raglin Ridge Road in Tehama County.
The weather forecast for the fire area on Tuesday calls for moderate fire weather; 77 degrees, relative humidity of 20 percent, and winds from variable directions at 6 mph. Early in the morning the wind will be out of the northwest but will shift throughout the day, becoming southeast by sunset. Similar conditions are expected on Wednesday except the wind will be 6 to 10 mph out of the north after 9 a.m.
Sensors on the GOES-17 satellite detected heat and smoke from the Ranch Fire at 3:06 p.m. PDT Nov. 4, 2019.
The fire has burned 77,758 acres north of Santa Rosa, California
The Kincade Fire as seen from the St. Helena North camera at 9:06 a.m. PDT Oct. 27, 2019. Looking toward Healdsburg.
The Kincade Fire that raced across 77,758 acres north of Santa Rosa, California is not completely out and will not be for weeks or months, but there has not been any major spread for days. Satellites that can detect large areas of heat have not found any since November 1, but firefighters are still mopping up, extinguishing Black Oak stumps that the satellites can’t see, and are putting in fireline where needed. They will also need to repair miles of dozer line that helped keep the fire in check.
CAL FIRE reports that 175 homes, 11 commercial structures, and 186 other buildings have been destroyed.
All evacuation orders have been lifted except for three locations: Briggs Ranch Road area, Highway 128 North Knights Valley area to the Napa County Line, and The Chalk Hill Road area. (more information)
Resources assigned to the fire include 356 engines, 45 water tenders, 3 helicopters, 95 hand crews and 28 dozers for a total of 3,929 personnel.
The Press Democrat is not a huge media outlet, but the staff does a great job of covering wildfires in California’s North Bay. A November 1 article that summarizes the evolution of the Kincade Fire since it started on October 23 is evidence of why citizens should support local news and other original reporting. Their in-depth story has excellent photos and graphics as well as details you will not find other places.
The fire started 13 minutes after SCE re-energized power lines near the point of origin
Map of the Maria Fire. All evacuations have been lifted. The pink line and green lines are where evacuations have been lifted. Source: Ventura County at 6:20 a.m. PDT Nov. 2, 2019.
UPDATED at 6:35 p.m. PDT November 2, 2019
The Ventura County Fire Department announced at 2:39 p.m. Saturday that all evacuation orders on the Maria Fire have been lifted.
More accurate mapping determined that the fire has burned 9,412 acres, which is a decrease from the 10,720-acre figure released earlier.
The number of structures burned has remained at three. That has not been broken down as to the type, such as outbuildings, homes, or commercial structures.
Saturday morning there were still 1,200 personnel assigned to the fire.
Crews from many different agencies are working hard to make areas safe for the public to return to. Fire weakens infrastructure and creates hazards that need to be addressed. Check out this video for more. pic.twitter.com/A2VdXvB9TF
We spotted the fire turning crosswind after departing SZP, this is at 6:16:29 pm, we texted people on the ground to call it in, as well as calling it in to PT Mugu approach over the radio. pic.twitter.com/wuRA56Dy5D
Friday afternoon the Maria Fire east of Ventura, California grew by another 2,000 acres on the west and north sides. The Ventura County Fire Department said a total of 10,720 acres have burned.
As the fire moved north into the Santa Clara river bottom on Friday live views from cameras on helicopters showed several structures burning, some of which appeared to be affiliated with ranching or farming. Horses freed by ranch hands were running from the fire.
The UPI reports that the fire, which started near mountaintop communication sites, may have been related to re-energized power lines.
Southern California Edison said that though it’s not sure what caused the Maria Fire, the company did re-energize its power lines in the vicinity about 13 minutes before it sparked. The company had previously cut off power to the area amid strong winds.
(Scroll down to see a tweet that has a photo of the fire shortly after it started.)
SCE power lines caused the huge fire across the valley from the Maria Fire, the Thomas Fire that in December, 2017 blackened 230,500 acres and destroyed 1,063 structures (see the map below). Two people were killed directly by the Thomas fire, one firefighter and a civilian, and 21 were killed later by flooding and mud flows off the vegetation-free mountains. Over 8,500 firefighters were mobilized to fight it, which is the largest mobilization of firefighters for combating any wildfire in California history. The cost of suppressing the fire was over $200 million.
Drones over the fire Friday at 3:19 a.m. and 4:05 a.m. shut down the water dropping activities of two night-flying helicopters, the LA Times reported. According to @VCscanner, Air Attack 51 reported one of the drones at about 3,000 feet, resulting in all firefighting aircraft having to shut down.
The Red Flag Warning has been extended through 6 p.m. Saturday due to very dry air with humidity levels from 2 to 8 percent, recovering only to 8 to 18 percent overnight. Daytime highs on Saturday and Sunday in the fire area are expected to be between 77 and 85 degrees. Northeast winds will persist through Saturday, with the Ventura County Mountains and Valleys experiencing 10-25 mph winds and gusts of 25-35 mph. Weaker but still present offshore winds will be present Saturday night through Sunday.
Red Flag Warnings November 2, 2019 include the Maria Fire area. NWS
UPDATED at 12:15 p.m. PDT Nov. 1, 2019
The wind on the north side of the Maria Fire has shifted. Instead of coming from the northeast it is now from the east at 10 mph gusting to 20, which is pushing the fire toward the river bottom south of Santa Paula. Additional firefighting resources are being dispatched to deal with the increased threat to structures.
Video from television helicopters has showed structures burning.
The Ventura County Fire Department reported at 12:10 p.m. Friday that the fire had burned 8,700 acres.
The red dots represent heat on the Maria Fire detected by a satellite at 2:06 a.m. PDT November 1, 2019. Click to enlarge.
New wildfires in the greater San Diego area, updated at 6:42 a.m. PDT Oct. 31, 2019.New wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area, updated at 6:42 a.m. PDT Oct. 31, 2019.
Here we will keep a list of the new wildfires as they occur in southern California during the extremely strong northeast wind event. This list will include very brief information about each fire. The locations are shown on the map above.
Hillside Fire
Time of update: 6:55 a.m. Thursday
Location: at Highway 18 near Lupin Lane. San Bernardino/North Park/Wildwood Park. 34.183 latitude, -117.285 longitude
Size: about 200 acres
Status: Active, multiple homes have been destroyed, 500 homes evacuated. Highway 18 is closed between 40th St. in San Bernardino and Highway 138 in Crestline. The area is experiencing 20-30 mph winds with gusts to 60. Evacuation orders are in place.
Map showing the location of the Hillside Fire at 3:12 a.m. PDT Oct. 31, 2019
46 Fire
Time of update: 11:16 p.m. Thursday
Location: 5300 block of 46th Street in Jurupa Valley in Riverside County.
Size: 300 acres at 6:30 a.m. Thursday
Status: Active, evacuations in effect. CAL FIRE reports that three residential structures and two outbuildings are confirmed destroyed.
Copper Fire
Time of update: 6:55 a.m. Thursday
Location: On the U.S./Mexico Border on Otay Mountain near Copper Canyon in southern San Diego County.
Size: CAL FIRE reports that 50 acres have burned on the U.S. side of the border. At Wildfire Today we estimate that approximately 500 acres in Mexico have burned.
Status: At 7:57 a.m. Thursday CAL FIRE reported that the spread on the portion of the fire in the U.S. has been stopped. Firefighters south of the border are engaged as well.
Smoke from the Copper Fire as seen from the Otay camera at 8:36 a.m. PDT Oct. 31, 2019.
Castlewood Fire
Time of update: 7:29 a.m. Thursday
Location: Castlewood Drive and north Gilbert St, Fullerton
Size: About 15 to 20 acres
Status: Firefighters have stopped the spread.
Easy Fire
Time of update: 7:13 a.m. PDT Thursday
Location: Simi Valley south of the 118 freeway, north of Madera Road, west of Acapulco Ave., and west of the 23 freeway.
Size: 1,723 acres (according to Ventura County Fire Department at 6:52 a.m. Thursday)
Status: Some evacuations are still in effect. Two structures have burned. Firefighters have stopped the spread.
Location: on the east side of the 57 freeway where it crosses over Brea Canyon Road three miles south of the 60 freeway.
Size: 16 acres
Status: Firefighters stopped the spread at 16 acres
Yosemite Fire
Time of update: 7:30 a.m. PDT Thursday
Location: In Simi Valley just south of the 118 freeway just east of Yosemite Ave. Near the intersection of Serena St. and Meralda Ave.
Size: estimate, one to two acres
Status: Started at about 1:25 p.m. Wednesday. Burned in the back yards of several homes on both sides of Yosemite Ave. Firefighters stopped the spread. A helicopter had to make a precautionary landing due to a mechanical problem, but there were no injuries.
Whittier Fire
Time of update: 4:52 p.m. PDT October 30, 2019
Location: 555 Durfee Ave South El Monte
Size: 2-3 acres
Status: Reported around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The spread was stopped at about 2-3 acres.
Dexter Fire
Time of update: 7:33 a.m. PDT Thursday
Location: Mission Ave at Mt. Rubidoux Dr., Riverside
Size: 30 acres
Status: It was reported at 11:40 a.m. on Wednesday. Evacuations have been lifted. Firefighters have stopped the spread.
