CA Fires Latest: 5 Dead, Over 770,000 Acres Burned

Kristina Houck
Updated ·6 min read

CALIFORNIA — Hundreds of wildfires continue to rage across the state of California Friday, claiming lives, destroying homes and forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate amid a record-breaking heat wave during the coronavirus pandemic.

Many of the blazes sparked after nearly 12,000 lightning strikes over several days and were fueled by extreme weather conditions.

"The hots are getting hotter. The dries are getting drier. Climate change is real," Gov. Gavin Newsom said as he addressed the wildfires in a video recorded for the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night. "If you are in denial about climate change, come to California."

The fires have scorched more than 771,000 acres since the lightning siege started on Saturday, according to Cal Fire.

As of Friday morning, more than 560 blazes have burned throughout the state, most of which have been contained due to aggressive firefighting, fire officials said. Of the wildfires, nearly two dozen were considered major fires and complexes, including the SCU Lightning Complex, the LNU Lightning Complex and the CZU August Lightning Complex in Northern California.



The fires devastating the Golden State have also claimed at least five lives.

A helicopter pilot was killed in a crash Wednesday while fighting the Hills Fire near Coalinga in Fresno County.

Four people have died in connection with the LNU Lightning Complex fires in the North Bay.

Three people were discovered dead Wednesday in Napa County, according to the Napa County Sheriff-Coroner's Office. A Pacific Gas & Electric employee died Wednesday while helping first responders with the fires in the Gates Canyon area near Vacaville in Solano County.

Nearly three dozen California State Parks near raging wildfires closed this week amid poor air quality and continued firefights.

Here are some of the major fires that were burning in California as of Friday morning, according to Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service:

SCU Lightning Complex

  • 229,968 acres and 10% contained as of 7 a.m. Friday

  • Start Date: Aug. 18

  • Counties: Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Stanislaus

  • Location: Multiple locations throughout Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties

  • Multiple evacuations ordered

  • READ MORE: East, South Bay Fires Burn Another 70,000 Acres Overnight

LNU Lightning Complex (includes Hennessey, Gamble, 15-10, Spanish, Markley, 13-4, 11-16)

CZU August Lightning Complex

River Fire

  • 39,464 acres and 9% contained as of 7 a.m. Friday

  • Start Date: Aug. 16

  • County: Monterey

  • Location: Pine Canyon and River Road, east of Salinas

Apple Fire

BTU/TGU Lightning Complex Fire

  • 30,042 acres and 10% contained as of 7 a.m. Friday

  • Start Date: Aug. 17

  • County: Butte, Tehama and Glenn counties

Lake Fire

  • 28,912 acres and 52% contained as of 7 a.m. Friday

  • Start Date: Aug. 12

  • County: Los Angeles

  • Location: Lake Hughes Road and Prospect Road, southwest Lake Hughes

North Complex Fire

  • 16,244 acres and 5% contained as of Aug. 18

  • Start Date: Aug. 18

  • County: Plumas

  • Location: Flemmings Sheep Camp

Carmel Fire

Holser Fire

  • 3,000 acres and 30% contained as of Aug. 18

  • Start Date: Aug. 17

  • County: Ventura

  • Location: Holser Canyon Road and Piru Canyon Road, south of Lake Piru

Salt Fire

  • 1,789 acres and 75% contained as of 7 a.m. Friday

  • Start Date: Aug. 18

  • County: Calaveras

  • Location: Salt Springs Valley Reservoir

Hills Fire

  • 1,900 acres and 45% contained as of 7 a.m. Friday

  • Start Date: Aug. 15

  • County: Fresno

  • Location: Highway 33 and Sutter Avenue, south of Coalinga in Fresno County

Woodward Fire

Potters Fire

  • 930 acres and 20% contained as of Aug. 18

  • Start Date: Aug. 18

  • County: Butte

  • Location: Potters Ravine Drive and Oregon Gulch Road, northeast of Oroville

Jones Fire

  • 705 acres and 25% contained as of 7 a.m. Friday

  • Start Date: Aug. 17

  • County: Nevada

  • Location: Jones Bar Road, Yuba River Drainage, northwest of Nevada City

Creek Fire

  • 820 acres and 90% contained as of 7 a.m. Friday

  • Start Date: Aug. 18

  • County: Mendocino

  • Location: Covelo, Highway 162 and Short Creek Road

Elsmere Fire

  • 200 acres and 30% contained as of Aug. 5

  • Start Date: Aug. 3

  • County: Los Angeles

  • Location: Elsmere Grapevine Road and Santa Clarita Truck Trail, Newhall

Post Fire

  • 120 acres and 35% contained as of Aug. 3

  • Start Date: Aug. 2

  • County: Los Angeles

  • Location: Northbound I-5 and Highway 138, south of Gorman in Los Angeles County

3-19 Fire

  • 62 acres and 100% contained as of 7 a.m. Friday

  • Start Date: Aug. 18

  • County: Mendocino

  • Location: Burris Lane in Potter Valley

Dolan Fire

(As Cal Fire's website has been down intermittently, here are some alternate places to find the latest information on fires burning across California: The National Forest Service's Fire Map I Cal Fire's official Twitter account I Cal Fire's Official Facebook page)


This article originally appeared on the Across California Patch