Based on the quonset hut design used extensively by the US military in World War II
Continue readingEstimated TOTAL cost of the Camp Fire was about $422 billion
The Camp Fire, November 8, 2018. NASA (Joshua Stevens) – NASA Landsat 8.We often publish statistics about wildfires, such as acres burned, average size, number of fires, and average size by decade. Here are some examples. Others are at an article updated February 2, 2022.
Bankrate has assembled more data about wildfires in an article titled U.S. Wildfire statistics.
Such as:
A study of the 2018 Camp Fire reveals staggering facts and estimations:
- Total 2019 claims from the Camp Fire: more than $12 billion
- Total damage and economic losses: more than $400 billion
- Total insured losses: estimated between $8.5 to $10.5 billion
- Toxic debris removal: nearly $2 billion
- Victim aid: $200 million
From Bankrate.comBankrate also has wildfire data broken down for each state. It’s an interesting way to spend few minutes, perusing the numbers.
Researchers conduct detailed case study of the Camp Fire
Establish a fire progression timeline
Continue readingPG&E to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter for fatalities in Camp Fire
84 people were killed in the northern California fire in 2018
Continue readingTrailer for the documentary “Fire in Paradise” released
A story about the Camp Fire that destroyed the city of Paradise, California
Continue readingPolitical candidate creates four-minute ad emphasizing the Camp Fire and climate change
Our policy on Wildfire Today about politics is that it “…will not be discussed, unless it directly affects wildland fire or firefighters”.
A presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, has created a four minute video ad in which most of those minutes are spent on the topic of the devastating Camp Fire that killed 85 people and destroyed over 14,000 homes in Northern California in November, 2018. The ad also discusses climate change.
Senator Sanders may be using wildfire as a means to talk about climate change, but it is unusual for a political candidate to put this amount of effort into the subject of wildland fire.
The Camp Fire killed at least 85 people and destroyed 14,000 homes.
It was the most destructive wildfire in California’s history—and climate change is making fires much worse.
We will address the climate crisis and pass a Green New Deal. pic.twitter.com/Z3dnxxjXmz
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 7, 2019
Wildfire Today is not going to endorse politicians. If other candidates put forth a similar amount of effort on the subject of wildland fire, we will cover those as well.
VICE on HBO: The Deadliest Wildfire in California History
VICE News has produced a very good segment about the Camp Fire, which burned over 153,000 acres, destroyed 18,804 structures, and resulted in 85 fatalities in November, 2018. It became the most destructive and deadliest wildfire in the recorded history of California.
This video was uploaded to YouTube January 30, 2019. Since then investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have determined that the fire was caused by a Pacific Gas and Electric power line.
CAL FIRE confirms — the Camp Fire that destroyed most of Paradise, CA was started by a PG&E powerline
It comes as no surprise, but the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has confirmed what was long thought, that equipment on a Pacific Gas and Electric power line started the Camp Fire that burned through Paradise, California. PG&E has been saying for months that it was likely their power line started the fire but CAL FIRE’s investigation now makes it official. This could open the floodgates for numerous civil and possibly criminal cases.
CAL FIRE discovered two points of origin, both caused by the power line. One resulted from vegetation coming in contact with a conductor, but they were not specific about the second source. A few days after the fire started there was an unofficial report that a piece of hardware on a 100-year old high voltage transmission tower failed, causing the line to fall, but this has not been officially confirmed.
CAL Fire did not release its full investigative report, saying it had been forwarded to the Butte County District Attorney’s office, which is considering filing criminal charges against the utility.
The fire started early in the morning on November 8, 2018 near the small community of Pulga northeast of Paradise. It burned over 153,000 acres, destroyed 18,804 structures, and resulted in 85 fatalities. It became the most destructive and deadliest wildfire in the recorded history of California.
Very strong winds and low humidity that day spread the fire rapidly into the town making it impossible to safely fly air tankers and helicopters close to the ground. The wind would have also blown retardant or water far off any selected target.
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom. Typos or errors, report them HERE.
“Inside the Megafire” premiers May 8 on PBS
“Inside the Megafire,” premiering Wednesda
In this episode, NOVA reports from the front line of the Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in California history, and follows scientists racing to understand what’s behind the recent rise in record-breaking megafires—from forestry practices, to climate change, to the physics of fire itself.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
Just a few months after California’s devastating Carr Fire, another blaze became the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in the state’s history. As residents raced to evacuate, the Camp Fire devoured 150,000 acres and claimed 86 lives. But how did it get so big so fast? And why are megafires like these becoming more common? NOVA goes to the front lines of the deadliest fires of California’s 2018 fire season to hear from the people who had to flee—and the scientists racing to understand what’s behind these record-breaking infernos. Researchers take to the forest, and even a fire lab, to understand the increasing megafire threat. They explore the physics of fire itself, documenting how firestorms move and travel, and what causes phenomena like fire tornadoes. In the process, they decode the link between climate change, drought, and wildfire. And they show how those environmental factors—combined with a century of fire suppression in the American West and new residential developments in the forest—may have created an unprecedented risk.
PROGRAM PAGE:
(Full program will be available to stream here for several weeks, even for those who do not have a paid subscription to PBS)
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/
30-SECOND TRAILER:
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/novapbs/
CLIF to donate 100% of profits from one of their bars to 2nd responder fund
The first project will help build a new Butte Humane Society facility that will shelter and care for animals impacted by the Camp Fire in California.
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