NorCal Fires Approach 1,000 Square Miles
Northern California wildfires this year have burned 635,535 acres, almost 1,000 square miles. That’s just the NorCal federal fires west of Interstate-5. These are the large fires on the Klamath, Six Rivers, Shasta-Trinity, and Mendocino National Forests. The calculation does not include the Butte, Cub, Corral, Canyon, Jack, or the other fires east of I-5.
To date, approximately $384.3 million dollars have been spent on the NorCal federal fires west of I-5. Twelve firefighters have lost their lives on these fires.
Most of the westside NorCal fires were ignited by the lightning storm of June 20-21. Many are still burning. Little or no direct attack has been utilized. Instead, massive backburns have been taking place all summer long.
For a commentary by Felice Pace entitled Smoky ‘burnouts’ are worse than original fires see [here].
The following fires were included in this calculation. The information was gleaned from W.I.S.E. Fire Tracking [here].
Mendocino Lightning Complex Fires
Mendocino NF
Size: 54,817 acres
Percent Contained: 100% on 07/17/08
Costs to date: $53,300,000
Lime Complex Fires
Shasta-Trinity NF
Size: 98,715 acres
Percent Contained: 100% on 08/12/08
Costs to Date: $58,609,654
SHU/Shasta Trinity Lightning Complex Fires
Shasta-Trinity NF
Size: 86,500 acres
Percent Contained: 100% on 07/25/08
Costs to Date: $56,171,112
Mad Complex Fires
Six Rivers NF
Size: 3,705 acres
Percent Contained: 100% on 07/15/08
Costs to Date: $5,478,347
Hells Half Complex Fires
Six Rivers NF, Shasta-Trinity NF
Size: 15,146 acres
Percent Contained:100% on 07/28/08
Costs to Date: $13,761,193
Ukonom Complex Fires
Six Rivers NF
Size: 52,945 acres (north 23,154, south 29,791)
Percent Contained: 82%
Costs to Date: est. $25 million
Soda Complex Fires
Mendocino NF
Size: 8,652 acres
Percent Contained: 100% on 07/27/08
Costs to Date: $17,563,075
Bear Wallow Complex Fires
Klamath NF
Size: 14,752 acres
Percent Contained: 35%
Costs to Date: $10,860,090
Panther Fire
Klamath NF
Size: 24,848 acres
Percent Contained: 75%
Costs to Date: $14,435,958
Siskiyou Complex Fires (with Blue 2)
Klamath NF
Size: 79,762 acres (Siskiyou 67,404 acs, Blue 2 12,358 acs)
Percent Contained: 78%
Costs to Date: $57,889,383 (Siskiyou $43,825,365, Blue 2 $14,064,018)
Yolla Bolly Complex
Mendocino NF, Shasta-Trinity NF
Size: 89,994 acres
Percent Contained: 100% (reported 08/19/08, but 85-90% actual)
Costs to Date: $16,100,000
Iron Complex Fires (includes Alps)
Shasta-Trinity NF
Size: 105,325 acres
Percent Contained: 94%
Costs to Date: $68,905,255
Slinkard Fire
Klamath NF
Size: 374 acres
Percent contained: 75%
Costs to Date: $2,200,000
