In 2016, a total of 7,349 fires had burned an area in California, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Climatologists had predicted an extreme version of El Niño, known as a super El Niño, to occur during the winter of 2015–16. Although the Pacific Ocean’s warming water had been expected to bring strong storms to parts of the southwestern United States, actual precipitation totals generally underperformed those expectations. Early in 2016, the National Interagency Fire Center predicted that an increased risk of fires in states such as California.

Background

The timing of "fire season" in California is variable, depending on the amount of prior winter and spring precipitation, the frequency and severity of weather such as heat waves and wind events, and moisture content in vegetation. Northern California typically sees wildfire activity between late spring and early fall, peaking in the summer with hotter and drier conditions. Occasional cold frontal passages can bring wind and lightning. The timing of fire season in Southern California is similar, peaking between late spring and fall. The severity and duration of peak activity in either part of the state is modulated in part by weather events: downslope/offshore wind events can lead to critical fire weather, while onshore flow and Pacific weather systems can bring conditions that hamper wildfire growth.

Events

In June, the United States Forest Service estimated that over 26 million trees trees has died in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in part due to droughts, higher temperatures, and insect activity.

On August 15, the National Interagency Fire Center reported that California's wildfires were some of the strongest on the West Coast. A day later, on August 16, San Bernardino County announced that nearly 85,000 people were evacuated because of the Blue Cut Fire near Cajon Pass. Authorities arrested a 40-year-old man in connection to the Clayton Fire, and charged him with 17 counts of arson.

List of wildfires Below is a list of all fires that exceeded during the 2016 California wildfire season, as well as the fires that caused significant damage. The information is taken from CAL FIRE's list of large fires, and other sources where indicated.

Name County Acres Start date Containment Date Notes RefRoberts San Luis Obispo3,712May 18, 2016May 20, 2016Burned on Camp Roberts.Metz Monterey3,876May 22, 2016May 25, 2016Coleman Monterey2,520June 4, 2016June 17, 2016Burned on Fort Hunter Liggett.Pony Siskiyou2,860 June 7, 2016June 30, 2016 Sherpa Santa Barbara7,474June 15, 2016July 12, 2016Border San Diego7,609June 19, 2016June 30, 20162 fatalities, 5 homes and 11 outbuildings destroyed Pine Ventura2,304 June 19, 2016July 17, 2016 San Gabriel Complex Los Angeles5,399June 20, 2016July 23, 2016Reservoir Fire burned 1,146 acres; Fish Fire burned 4,253 acres Erskine Kern 48,019June 23, 2016July 12, 20162 fatalities, 285 homes destroyed, 12 damaged Trailhead Placer5,646June 28, 2016July 18, 2016 DeerKern1,785July 1, 2016July 11, 2016 CurryFresno2,944July 1, 2016 July 5, 2016 SageLos Angeles1,109July 9, 2016July 16, 2016 RoblarSan Diego1,245July 21, 2016July 30, 2016Burned on Camp Pendleton. SandLos Angeles41,432July 22, 2016August 3, 20162 fatalities, 18 homes destroyed, 4 damaged SoberanesMonterey 132,100July 22, 2016October 12, 20161 fatality, 3 injuries, 57 homes and 11 outbuildings destroyed. GooseFresno2,241July 30, 2016August 9, 2016 4 homes, 5 outbuildings destroyed ColdYolo5,731August 2, 2016August 12, 2016 2 outbuildings destroyed PilotSan Bernardino8,110August 7, 2016August 16, 2016 MineralFresno7,050August 9, 2016August 18, 2016 2 structures destroyed ChimneySan Luis Obispo46,344August 13, 2016September 6, 201648 structures destroyed Clayton Lake3,929August 13, 2016August 26, 2016300 buildings destroyed Blue CutSan Bernardino36,274August 16, 2016August 23, 2016105 homes, 213 outbuildings destroyed CedarKern29,322August 16, 2016September 30, 2016 ReySanta Barbara 32,606August 18, 2016September 16, 2016 GapSiskiyou 33,867August 27, 2016September 17, 2016 BogartRiverside1,470August 30, 2016September 2, 2016 1 outbuilding destroyed WillardLassen2,575September 11, 2016September 22, 2016 5 structures destroyed Owens RiverMono5,443September 17, 2016October 15, 2016 CanyonSanta Barbara12,518September 17, 2016September 24, 20161 firefighter killed in crash. Burned on Vandenberg Space Force Base. SawmillSonoma1,547September 25, 2016September 29, 2016 MarshesTuolumne1,080September 26, 2016October 4, 2016Burned just north of the Don Pedro Reservoir in the Stanislaus National Forest. Approximately 30 homes were evacuated and two minor injuries were reported. The fire briefly threatened the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System headquarters, but normal water operations continued throughout the fire. The fire was started by a vehicle parked in dry grass along Marshes Flat Road. LomaSanta Clara4,474September 26, 2016October 12, 2016 28 structures destroyed

See also List of California wildfires 2005 Labor Day brush fire 2016 Fort McMurray Wildfire 2014 California wildfires May 2014 San Diego County wildfires

Notes

References

External links

California current incident information from CAL FIRE California wildfires on the US Forestry Incident Information System (InciWeb) 2016 California Fire Map (Calfire/Google Maps)