2023 California wildfires
Beyond a dirt road and desert brush and Joshua trees, a flame front burns and colors the sky brown and orange
The York Fire burns in Mojave National Preserve on July 29
Statistics[1]
Total fires7,127
Total area324,917 acres (131,489 ha)
Date(s)
  • January 1 –
  • December 31, 2023
Buildings destroyed58 (13 damaged)
Deaths4
Season
← 2022
2024 →

The 2023 California wildfire season is a series of significant wildfires that burned in the U.S. state of California during the calendar year. According to statistics published by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), as of December 31, 2023, a total of 7,127 fires had burned a total of 324,917 acres (131,489 hectares). This is below the state's five-year average of 1,722,059 acres (696,893 ha) burned during the same period.[1][2] The 2023 fire season follows the 2022 season, during which the number of fires and the resulting burned acreage were both below average.[3]

Season outlook

Climate

California saw a series of powerful atmospheric rivers between December 2022 and March 2023, which much improved drought conditions in the state and boosted the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada to more than 200% of average for the date. Some researchers noted that the resulting vegetation growth could prove dangerous if dry and warm conditions return during spring and summer, obviating the gains from early storms,[4][5] but in general, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), increased precipitation reduces the risk of a worse wildfire season.[6]

Cal Fire predicted that "critically dry fuel moisture alignments are not likely to be reached for any great length of time or over a larger area" between March and June 2023.[1] Critical fuel moisture refers to the point at which fuel characteristics—like vegetation mortality or dryness—are favorable for large fire growth.[7][6][8]

Timing of peak fire season

In Northern California, fire season typically peaks in the summer with increasingly warm and dry conditions and aided by occasional dry cold frontal passages that may bring winds and/or lightning. Activity usually continues until late fall brings Pacific moisture to the northern portion of the state, though northeast wind events may pose a threat. In Southern California, fire season typically peaks in late spring through early fall, when Pacific moisture recedes. Offshore wind events such as Santa Ana winds mean that large fires are possible year-round, but their frequency is most heightened in the fall, when fuels are also driest.[9]

Preparation

In January, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the allocation of $930 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act to ten western states, including California, for fuel reduction programs and other measures to curtail wildfire risks. The allocation was reported to represent a significant increase in funding for programs like tree clearing, brush thinning and removal, and controlled burns in Southern California, whose four National Forests previously received about $1.2 million annually for those purposes.[10]

On January 31, California senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla (as well as senators Steve Daines of Montana and Ron Wyden of Oregon) introduced a bill to the U.S. Senate entitled the Wildfire Emergency Act, recognizing the "threat of wildfire" as an emergency in the Western United States. The proposed bill would provide at least a quarter of a billion dollars in funding for forest restoration and wildfire resilience in 20 locations of more than 100,000 acres (40,000 ha) each, coordinated by the Forest Service. It would also create a program at the Department of Energy to "ensure that critical facilities remain active during wildfire disruptions". Further funding would be provided for prescribed fire implementation, firefighter training, and wildfire detection.[11]

On March 20, Vice President Kamala Harris announced $197 million in federal grants through the administration’s wildfire defense grant program. California-based authorities and organizations were slated to receive 29 grants; they include money for counties to conduct home defensible space inspections, prescribed burn training, and fuels reductions, as well as increased funding for U.S. Forest Service and Department of Interior wildfire prevention efforts.[12]

Impacts

Casualties

While fighting the 3-acre (1.2 ha) Broadway Fire near Cabazon in Riverside County on August 6, two helicopters (a Bell 407 and a Sikorsky S-64E) collided in mid-air. The Sikorsky helicopter landed safely, while all three occupants of the Bell helicopter—a contract pilot, a Cal Fire division chief, and a Cal Fire captain—were killed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the accident.[13][14]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that have burned more than 1,000 acres (400 hectares), produced significant structural damage or casualties, or otherwise been notable. Acreage and containment figures may not be up to date.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Notes Refs
Danny Los Angeles1,560June 4June 5Unknown cause.[15]
Geology Riverside1,088June 10June 18Cause under investigation, burned in Joshua Tree National Park.[16][17]
Bone Tuolumne1,163June 15July 10Caused by lightning in the area of a Stanislaus National Forest planned prescribed burn, the fire was managed for resource objectives.[18]
District Kern1,044July 7July 10Caused by a semi truck fire. Adjacent to Interstate 5, caused closures of the freeway's northbound lanes.[19][20][21]
Rabbit Riverside8,283July 14July 22Cause under investigation, burned near Lakeview and Beaumont. Caused evacuation warnings and orders.[22][23][24]
Bonny Riverside2,322July 27August 9Cause under investigation. Caused evacuation warnings and orders. 1 structure destroyed.[25][26]
York San Bernardino, Clark (NV)93,078July 28August 19Cause undetermined. Burned largely in Mojave National Preserve in California; burned 9,127 acres (3,694 ha) in Nevada. 3 structures destroyed.[27][28]
East Kern1,540August 1August 2Cause under investigation.[29][30]
No Name Kern1,120August 5August 8Cause under investigation.[31][32]
Almond Kern5,229August 6August 7Cause under investigation.[33][34]
South Fork Complex Humboldt3,929August 15
November 1
Caused by lightning. Consists of the 3-9, Sulfur, Pellitreau, and Pilot fires.[35][36]
SRF Lightning Complex Humboldt50,198August 15October 27Caused by lightning. Consists of the Lone Pine, Pearch, Mosquito, Blue Creek, Blue Creek 2, Bluff #1, Let-er-buck, Hancock, Iron, Lost, Devil, and Glenn fires.[37]
Deep Trinity4,198August 15October 2}}Caused by lightning.[38][39]
Smith River Complex Del Norte, Curry (OR), Josephine (OR)95,107August 15
November 17
Caused by lightning. Consists of the Holiday, Diamond, Kelly, and Prescott fires, as well as many smaller fires.[40][41]
Happy Camp Complex Siskiyou21,725August 15October 23Caused by lightning. Consists of the Head, Canyon, Elliot, and Three Creeks fires, as well as many smaller fires. Evacuations in effect. 9 structures destroyed/damaged.[42][43]
Redwood Tulare2,248August 15
70% contained
Caused by lightning. Burning in Sequoia National Park and being managed by the park with a "confine and contain" strategy.[44][45]
Plant Santa Barbara5,464August 19August 22Cause under investigation.[46][47]
Quarry Tuolumne12,935September 9
80% contained
Caused by lightning.[48]
Rabbit Tulare2,856September 30
November 14
Caused by lightning.[49]
Highland Riverside2,487October 30November 6Cause under investigation.[50]
Canyon San Diego7,000October 30November 8Cause under investigation. Burned on Camp Pendleton.[51]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "2023 Fire Season Incident Archive". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Statistics". fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  3. ↑ Smith, Hayley (November 19, 2022). "'We got really lucky': Why California escaped another destructive fire season in 2022". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ Ramirez, Rachel; Rigdon, Renée (January 26, 2023). "How California's recent flooding could set the stage for a dangerous wildfire season". CNN. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ "California's recent flooding could set the stage for a dangerous wildfire season". CBS Bay Area. January 26, 2023. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Smith, Hayley (January 31, 2023). "Why epic California rains might not prevent a dangerous fire season ahead". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Fire Weather Criteria". National Weather Service. NOAA. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  8. ↑ Steffens, Ron (January 21, 2023). "What a wet West Coast winter foretells for fire season 2023". Wildfire Today. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Fire Season Climatology". National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  10. ↑ Nelson, Joe (January 19, 2023). "Southern California to get slice of $930 million in federal funds for wildfire reduction efforts". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Preparedness, Reduce Risk for Catastrophic Wildfires". United States Senator for California Dianne Feinstein. January 31, 2023. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  12. ↑ Subramanian, Courtney (March 20, 2023). "Harris unveils $197 million for wildfire resilience as California's fire season looms". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  13. ↑ Wolfe, Elizabeth; Watson, Michelle (August 7, 2023). "NTSB investigating a helicopter collision that left 3 dead while battling Southern California fires". CNN. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  14. ↑ Smith, Hayley; Wigglesworth, Alex; Petri, Alexandra E.; Goldberg, Noah; Lin, Summer (August 7, 2023). "Authorities investigate Cabazon helicopter crash that killed 3: 'This should never happen'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Danny Fire: Forward progress stopped, nearly 1,600 acres burned". KTTV. June 4, 2023. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Geology Fire". The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  17. ↑ Franco, Kate; Perez, Eliana (June 11, 2023). "Fire in Joshua Tree National Park. What to know about road, trail, camping closures". Palm Springs Desert Sun. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  18. ↑ "2023 - Bone Lightning Fire Information". InciWeb: Incident Information System. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  19. ↑ "District Fire". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  20. ↑ "District Fire". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  21. ↑ Rodriguez, Matthew (July 7, 2023). "District Fire grows to 357 acres, closes part of the northbound I-5 Freeway". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Rabbit Fire". CAL FIRE. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Rabbit Fire". Watch Duty. July 14, 2023. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  24. ↑ Radin, Danielle (July 14, 2023). "Road closures in place as firefighters respond to Rabbit Fire in Lakeview". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Bonny Fire". fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Bonny Fire". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  27. ↑ "2023 - York Fire". InciWeb. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  28. ↑ "York Fire". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  29. ↑ "East Fire". fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  30. ↑ "East Fire". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  31. ↑ "No Name Fire". fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  32. ↑ "No Name Fire". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Almond Fire". fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Almond Fire". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  35. ↑ "South Fork Complex Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  36. ↑ "SHF South Fork Complex Fire". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  37. ↑ "2023 SRF Lightning Complex Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  38. ↑ "2023 Deep Fire Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Deep Fire". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on August 20, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Smith River Complex Information". Inciweb. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  41. ↑ "SRF Smith River Complex". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  42. ↑ "2023 Happy Camp Complex Klamath NF Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Happy Camp Complex". fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Redwood Fire Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  45. ↑ "Parks Utilizing Confine and Contain Suppression Strategy for Redwood Fire in Sequoia National Park Wilderness". InciWeb. September 16, 2023. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  46. ↑ "Plant Fire". fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  47. ↑ "Plant Fire". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  48. ↑ "Quarry Fire Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  49. ↑ "Rabbit Fire Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  50. ↑ "Highland Fire Information". Watch Duty. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  51. ↑ "Canyon Fire Information". Watch Duty. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
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