2014 California wildfires

2014 California wildfires
Satellite image of the wildfires in Southern California and Baja California, on May 15, 2014.
Statistics[1][2][3][4][5]
Total fires	7,865
Total area	555,044 acres (2,246 km^2)
Cost	At least $184.02 million (2014 USD)
Injuries	At least 146
Fatalities	2 confirmed
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The 2014 California wildfire season saw several notable wildfires ignited in the state of California, especially during the month of May, when multiple fires were ablaze concurrently in Southern California, and during September, when several massive wildfires were burning in Northern California. In the context of the 2012–15 North American drought (especially the 2011–15 California drought), as well as powerful Santa Ana winds, weather conditions were ideal for wildfires. The season began unusually early when a wildfire ignited on January 1, followed by 6 more fires igniting later within the same month. During a heat wave and dry Santa Ana conditions in May 2014, multiple wildfires broke out simultaneously in San Diego County, along with several other wildfires elsewhere in California. By mid-May, fire officials said they had already dealt with 1,400 wildfires in California in 2014 - twice the normal amount for that time of year - and a spokesman for CAL FIRE described the conditions as "unprecedented."^[6] The May 2014 San Diego County wildfires were estimated to have caused at least $60 million (2014 USD) in damage.^[3] In late June to early August, another group of wildfires ignited across the state, some of which reached over twenty thousand acres in size. In mid-September, the largest group of wildfires erupted, with some wildfires becoming larger than 50,000 acres in size. In early September 2014, the Happy Complex Fire became the largest wildfire of the season, eventually topping out at 135,369 acres (54,782 ha) in size on September 27. On October 8, an aerial tanker crashed during a firefighting effort at the Dog Rock Fire, which killed the pilot and sparked a small wildfire.^[2] From late September to late October, the latest flare-up of major wildfires were extinguished by cooler weather and precipitation. From December 10–13, a powerful winter storm extinguished the remaining wildfires that were present. In mid-December through late December, several more small wildfires sparked, but they were all extinguished by December 31. A total of 5,620 wildfires ignited throughout the year, which burned at least 631,434 acres (2,555.32 km²) of land. The wildfires caused a total of 146 injuries and 2 fatalities, in addition to causing at least $184.02 million (2014 USD) in damage.

Fires

Below is a list of all fires that exceeded 1,000 acres (400 ha) during the 2014 fire season, as well as those fires that caused significant damage.^[7] The list is taken from CAL FIREs list of large fires.

Name	County	Acres	Km^2	Start Date	Contained Date	Notes	Ref
Bernardo	San Diego	1,548	6.3	13 May 2014	17 May 2014		[8]
Cocos	San Diego	1,995	8.1	14 May 2014	22 May 2014	40 structures destroyed	[9]
Pulgas	San Diego	14,416	58.3	15 May 2014	21 May 2014		[10]
Butts	Napa	4,300	17.4	1 July 2014	9 July 2014	9 structures destroyed	[11]
Monticello	Yolo	6,488	26.3	4 July 2014	12 July 2014		[12]
Bully	Shasta	12,661	51.2	11 July 2014	28 July 2014	20 structures destroyed 1 civilian fatality	[13]
Sand	El Dorado	4,240	17.2	25 July 2014	2 September 2014	67 structures destroyed	[14]
Kelley	Merced	1,000	4.0	26 July 2014	29 July 2014		[7]
Day	Modoc	13,153	53.2	30 July 2014	13 August 2014	10 structures destroyed	[15]
Lodge Complex	Mendocino	12,535	50.7	30 July 2014	9 September 2014		[16]
Gulch	Shasta	1,375	5.6	10 September 2014	16 September 2014	4 structures destroyed	[17]
Boles	Siskiyou	516	2.1	15 September 2014	11 October 2014	157 structures destroyed	[18]
Courtney	Madera	320	1.3	14 September 2014	21 September 2014	49 structures destroyed	[19]
Soda	Tulare	1,612	6.5	14 January 2014	15 February 2014		[7]
Colby	Los Angeles	1,952	7.9	16 January 2014	21 January 2014	15 structures destroyed	[20]
Etiwanda	San Bernardino	2,200	8.9	30 April 2014	9 May 2014		[21]
Poinsettia	San Diego	600	2.4	14 May 2014	17 May 2014	28 structures destroyed	[22]
Basilone Complex	San Diego	21,240	86.0	17 May 2014	19 May 2014		[7]
Shirley	Kern	2,545	10.3	13 June 2014	22 June 2014	2 structures destroyed	[23]
Stony	Monterey	4,840	19.6	19 June 2014	22 June 2014		[7]
Modoc July Complex	Modoc	2,566	10.4	1 July 2014	7 July 2014		[7]
Nicolls	Kern	1,680	6.8	11 July 2014	19 July 2014		[24]
Dark Hole	Mariposa	1,077	4.4	16 July 2014	20 August 2014		[25]
El Portal	Mariposa	4,689	19.0	26 July 2014	4 August 2014	2 structures destroyed	[26]
French	Madera	13,838	56.0	28 July 2014	18 August 2014		[27]
Bald	Shasta	39,736	160.8	30 July 2014	16 August 2014		[28]
Coffee Complex	Trinity	6,178	25.0	30 July 2014	16 August 2014		[29]
KNF Beaver	Siskiyou	32,496	131.5	30 July 2014	30 August 2014	6 structures destroyed	[30]
Little Deer	Siskiyou	5,503	22.3	31 July 2014	11 August 2014	1 structure destroyed	[31]
Eiler	Shasta	32,416	131.2	31 July 2014	24 August 2014	21 structures destroyed	[32]
July Complex	Siskiyou	50,042	202.5	3 August 2014	25 September 2014	2 structures destroyed	[33]
Happy Camp Complex	Siskiyou	134,056	542.5	14 August 2014	31 October 2014	6 structures destroyed	[34]
Meadow	Mariposa	4,772	19.3	15 August 2014	29 September 2014		[35]
Way	Kern	4,045	16.4	18 August 2014	28 August 2014	12 structures destroyed	[36]
King	El Dorado	97,717	395.4	13 September 2014	9 October 2014	80 structures destroyed	[37]
Dog Rock	Mariposa	311	1.3	7 October 2014	12 October 2014	1 firefighter killed	[38]

May San Diego Wildfires

The Cocos Fire burning above CSU San Marcos, on May 14, 2014

In May a series of at least 10 wildfires broke out in San Diego County during severe Santa Ana Wind conditions, historic drought conditions, and a heat wave. The main event during mid-May was preceded by a precursor fire that ignited on May 5. The severe weather conditions contributed to the spread of at least 19 more individual wildfires, with ten of them receiving names. The Cocos Fire, which was the most destructive with 40 structured being destroyed, was determined to be arson.^[39] The causes of the other fires are still under investigation by multiple agencies, and a joint task force was formed to coordinate the investigations and facilitate communications.^[40] Six injuries and one fire-related fatality were reported.

Hunters Fire

On May 27, at 3:00 PM PDT, the Hunters Fire broke out at Hunters Valley Access Road Bear Valley Area, in Mariposa County. The fire spread toward populated areas and evacuations were ordered for the Hunters Valley Area.^[41]

Stony Fire

On June 19, at 3:14 PM PDT, the Stony Fire was reported at Stony Valley Range on Fort Hunter Liggett, in Monterey County. The wildfire quickly spread to 5,000 acres (2,000 ha), but it was 100% contained by June 20.^[42] Moderate amounts of smoke still lingered within the area, and cleanup work was expected to continue for the next few days. The Nacimiento-Ferguson Road was also closed due to downed trees, but was expected to reopen a couple of days later. No evacuations were ordered for this fire, and no injuries or fatalities were reported. The cause of the wildfire is currently under investigation.

Butts Fire

On July 1, at 12:08 PM PDT, the Butts Fire broke out near Butts Canyon Road in Pope Valley, California, northwest of Lake Berryessa, in Yolo County.^[43]

Banner Fire

The Banner Fire erupted around 10:30 AM PDT on July 3, 2014 in the Banner, California area, near Route 78 in San Diego County. It quickly spread westward and expanded to 150 acres (61 ha), threatening the town of Julian. Portions of Route 78 were closed, and mandatory evacuation was ordered for 200 homes; however, the evacuation order was lifted later that evening, as the containment of the wildfire's perimeter increased. Two homes were destroyed, but the heavy use of firefighting planes and helicopters prevented additional losses.^[44]

Monticello Fire

On July 4, at 9:32 PM PDT, the Monticello Fire erupted at Highway 128 at Monticello Dam, at the southeast shore of Lake Berryessa, in Yolo County.^[45]

Sand Fire

The Sand Fire was ignited in El Dorado County, five miles north of the Amador County town of Plymouth, on July 25, at 4:34 PM PDT, by a vehicle driving over dry vegetation.^[46] A total of 4,240 acres (1,720 ha) were burned, claiming 20 residences and 47 outbuildings. Twelve hundred residences were evacuated before full containment of the wildfire was achieved on August 2.^[47]

Gulch Fire

On September 10, a car fire started a fire in the Bella Vista area.^[48] On September 16, the Gulch Fire was fully contained after burning 1,375 acres (556 ha).^[49] The wildfire has also injured a total of 4 people.^[49] The damage caused by the Gulch Fire is currently unknown.

See also

• May 2014 San Diego County wildfires
• List of California wildfires
• Climate change in California
• 2014–15 North American winter

References

1. London, Christina (May 15, 2014). "Body Found in Ashes of Carlsbad Fire". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
2. "Pilot Killed After Airtanker Crash in Yosemite National Park Identified". The Weather Channel. October 9, 2014.
3. Repard, Pauline (May 24, 2014). "County estimates wildfire costs at nearly $60 million". San Diego Union Tribune.
4. "National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
5. "Wildland Fire Fatalities by Year" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
6. Medina, Jennifer (May 15, 2014). "Fire Season Starts Early, and Fiercely". New York Times. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
7. "Large Fires 2014" (PDF). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
8. "Bernardo Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
9. "Cocos Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
10. "Pulgas Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
11. "Butts Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
12. "Monticello Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
13. "Bully Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
14. "Sand Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
15. "Day Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
16. "Lodge Complex Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
17. "Gulch Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
18. "Boles Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
19. "Courtney Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
20. "Colby Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
21. "Etiwanda Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
22. "Poinsettia Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
23. "Shirley Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
24. "Nicolls Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
25. "Dark Hole Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
26. "El Portal Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
27. "French Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
28. "Bald Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
29. "Coffee Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
30. "Oregon Gulch Fire Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
31. "Little Deer Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
32. "Eiler Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
33. "July Complex Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
34. "Happy Camp Complex Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
35. "Meadow Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
36. "Way Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
37. "King Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
38. "Dog Rock Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
39. Figueroa, Terry (July 10, 2014). "Officials: juvenile started Cocos blaze". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
40. Summers, Dave (May 19, 2014). "Fire Investigations Pooled into 1 Task Force". NBC San Diego. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
41. "Hunters Fire". CalFire. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
42. "PRESS RELEASE U.S. Army Garrison Fort... - Fort Hunter Liggett - Facebook". facebook.com.
43. "Butts Fire General Information". ca.gov.
44. "Banner Fire now 40 percent contained; 2 homes lost in fire near Julian". ABC 10 News. July 4, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
45. "Monticello Fire General Information". ca.gov.
46. "Sand Fire Incident Information". Cal Fire. August 2, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
47. "Sand - Amador". YubaNet.com. August 4, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
48. http://www.redding.com/news/local-news/gulch-fire-declared-contained Record Searchlight
49. "Gulch Fire General Information". ca.gov.