2007 California wildfires

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2007 California wildfires
NASA satellite photo (provided by NSPO, Taiwan National Space Organization) from October 24, 2007, showing the active fire zones and smoke plumes.
Statistics[2]
Total fires9,093
Total area1,520,362 acres (6,152.69 km2)[1]
Impacts
DeathsAt least 17[3][4][5]
Non-fatal injuriesAt least 203[6][7]
Damage>$2.681 billion (2007 USD)[8][9][10]
Season
← 2006
2008 →

At least 9,093 separate

U.S.–Mexico border.[6] At the peak of the wildfire activity in October 2007, the raging wildfires were visible from space.[11]

The wildfires killed a total of 17 people, with nine of them dying directly from the fires;[12][5] 203 others were injured, including at least 124 firefighters.[6][13]

California Governor

United States National Guard,[17] almost 3,000 prisoners convicted of non-violent crimes,[18] and 60 firefighters from the Mexican cities of Tijuana and Tecate.[19] The fires forced approximately 1,000,000 people to evacuate from their homes, becoming the largest evacuation in California's history.[20]

Major contributing factors to the extreme fire conditions were drought in Southern California, hot weather, and the unusually strong Santa Ana winds, with gusts reaching 112 mph (180 km/h).[5][21] California's "fire season," which traditionally runs from June to October, has become a year-round threat, due to a mixture of perennial drought and the increasing number of homes built in canyons and on hillsides, surrounded by brush and forest.[22]

The fires had numerous sources. Several were triggered by power lines damaged by the high winds.[23][24] One fire started when a semi-truck overturned.[25] Another was suspected as having been deliberately caused; the suspect was shot and killed in flight by state authorities.[26] A 10-year-old boy admitted that he accidentally started the Buckweed Fire by playing with matches.[27] The causes of the remaining fires remain under investigation. The last active fire of the October 2007 fires, the Harris Fire, was fully extinguished on November 16, 2007, about 27 days after the series of wildfires had begun to ignite.[28][29] The October 2007 wildfires collectively caused over $2 billion in property damages.[8][9]

During the season, the National Interagency Fire Center reported that two firefighters were killed. One died in a helicopter crash, and the second was killed in a bulldozer rollover.[30]

Fires

Below is a list of all fires that exceeded 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) during the 2007 fire season.

CAL FIRE
's list of large fires.

Name County Acres Km2 Start Date Contained Date Notes
241 Orange 2,036 8.2 March 11, 2007 March 13, 2007 2 structures destroyed
Sierra Riverside 1,044 4.2 March 11, 2007 March 12, 2007
Las Flores San Bernardino 4,100 16.6 March 31, 2007 April 1, 2007 1 structure destroyed
Golden Inyo 1,988 8.0 April 14, 2007 April 15, 2007
James Kern 1,350 5.5 April 29, 2007 May 5, 2007
Island Los Angeles 4,750 19.2 May 10, 2007 May 15, 2007 6 structures destroyed
Gorman Los Angeles 2,050 8.3 May 19, 2007 May 22, 2007
Shannon Tulare 2,140 8.7 June 3, 2007 June 4, 2007
Goldledge Tulare 4,196 17.0 June 3, 2007 June 28, 2007
Inkopah Imperial 1,500 6.1 June 5, 2007 June 6, 2007
Angora El Dorado 3,100 12.5 June 24, 2007 July 2, 2007 309 structures destroyed; cost at least $152.7 million in property damage and fire suppression
White Kern 12,454 50.4 June 24, 2007 July 3, 2007 31 structures destroyed
Mission Monterey 2,300 9.3 June 28, 2007 June 28, 2007
Zaca Santa Barbara 240,207 972.1 July 4, 2007 September 4, 2007 1 structure destroyed
Antelope Complex Plumas 22,902 92.7 July 5, 2007 July 13, 2007 2 structures destroyed
Inyo Complex Inyo 35,176 142.4 July 6, 2007 July 16, 2007 33 structures destroyed
Rock 2 Tulare 1,005 4.1 July 6, 2007 July 7, 2007
Fletcher Modoc 8,121 32.9 July 10, 2007 July 19, 2007 11 structures destroyed
Elk Complex Siskiyou 17,684 71.6 July 10, 2007 September 15, 2007 1 firefighter fatality
China-Back Complex Siskiyou 2,906 11.8 July 13, 2007 July 21, 2007
Bangor Butte 1,057 4.3 August 7, 2007 August 7, 2007
Tar Kings 5,644 22.8 August 10, 2007 August 19, 2007
Grouse Tulare 1,022 4.1 August 27, 2007 September 8, 2007
Wallow Trinity 1,440 5.8 August 29, 2007 September 3, 2007
North Los Angeles 2,200 8.9 September 2, 2007 September 8, 2007
Lick Santa Clara 47,760 193.3 September 3, 2007 September 11, 2007 24 structures destroyed
Moonlight Plumas 64,997 263.0 September 3, 2007 September 15, 2007 21 structures destroyed
Pine San Diego 2,170 8.8 September 12, 2007 September 16, 2007
Butler 2 San Bernardino 14,039 56.8 September 14, 2007 October 1, 2007 3 structures destroyed
Ranch Los Angeles 58,401 236.3 October 20, 2007 October 30, 2007 10 structures destroyed
Canyon
 Los Angeles 4,521 18.3 October 21, 2007 October 27, 2007 8 structures destroyed
Sedgewick Fire Santa Barbara 710 2.9 October 21, 2007 October 30, 2007
Harris San Diego 90,440 366.0 October 21, 2007 November 5, 2007 472 structures destroyed, 1 civilian fatality
Witch San Diego 197,990 801.2 October 21, 2007 November 6, 2007 1,650 structures destroyed, 2 civilian fatalities
McCoy Fire[nb 1] San Diego 400 1.6 October 21, 2007 October 26, 2007[32] 1 structure destroyed[33]
Buckweed Los Angeles 38,356 155.2 October 21, 2007 November 1, 2007 63 structures destroyed
Santiago Orange 28,400 114.9 October 21, 2007 November 9, 2007 24 structures destroyed
Little Mountain Fire San Bernardino 650 2.6 October 22, 2007 October 24, 2007
Magic Los Angeles 2,824 11.4 October 22, 2007 October 27, 2007
Slide San Bernardino 12,759 51.6 October 22, 2007 October 31, 2007 272 structures destroyed
Rice San Diego 9,472 38.3 October 22, 2007 November 1, 2007 248 structures destroyed
Grass Valley San Bernardino 1,247 5.0 October 22, 2007 October 29, 2007 178 structures destroyed
Meadowridge Fire Los Angeles 58,401 236.3 October 23, 2007 October 30, 2007
Poomacha[nb 1]
 San Diego 49,410 200.0 October 23, 2007 November 13, 2007[5] 217 structures destroyed
Ammo (Horno) Fire San Diego 21,004 85.0 October 23, 2007 October 29, 2007
Jack Mariposa 1,108 4.5 October 29, 2007 December 15, 2007
Corral
 Los Angeles 4,901 19.8 November 24, 2007 November 27, 2007 86 structures destroyed

Notes

  1. ^ a b These wildfires merged into the Witch Fire.

October 2007 wildfires

Main article: October 2007 California wildfires

Wind and weather

QuikSCAT image from 2002 showing the speed of the Santa Ana winds (m/s)
See also: Southwestern North American megadrought

The October 2007 fires occurred following an extremely dry previous winter: in

East Bay
, near Stockton, where it impacted local weather. High-speed Santa Ana winds also rendered the use of dropping water from fire fighting aircraft inefficient: until such winds abate, most payloads of water are just dispersed by the wind over an area so large that the water evaporates before it can reach a large fire on the ground.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported,

Santa Ana winds blowing up to 60 mph (97 km/h) combined with temperatures into the 90s to create in the worst possible fire conditions.[35]

At one point, swirling winds threatened to bring fire into densely populated urban areas.[22] At the height of the Santa Ana winds on October 22, sustained wind speeds reached 90 mph (140 km/h), with wind gusts up to 112 mph (180 km/h) reported.[5]

A comparison of the Simi Valley skyline from October 21, 2007 (left and center) to October 22, 2007 (right)

Impact

Mira Mesa High School
The remains of a home destroyed by the Witch Creek Fire

On October 21, the Harris Fire damaged and disabled the

power grid.[36] During the crisis, Mexico provided power to help augment the electrical needs of the San Diego area.[38]

Authorities have stated that the evacuations, which displaced more than 900,000 people, have been the largest evacuation number in the history of California.

San Diego Wild Animal Park moved some animals to the on-site animal hospital for their protection.[42]

The Horno Fire had charred 6,000 acres (24 km2) in Camp Pendleton by 4:00 A.M PDT, on October 24, 2007. It caused the closure of Interstate 5 and it also caused Amtrak California to stop Pacific Surfliner service between Oceanside and San Clemente.[43] Traffic was being diverted to Interstate 15, which had itself been closed earlier.[44] Illegal migrant workers were endangered by the crisis, sometimes staying at work in the fields within mandatory evacuation zones. Many had lived in the canyons nearby and distrusted officials.[45] When fleeing the fires, some were arrested, while others were turned away from shelters due to lack of adequate identification.[46] Some Mexican firefighters expressed concern about their countrymen, while others felt the migrant workers were aware of the risks they were taking.[47]

Only a few cases of looting were documented. Six people were arrested for stealing supplies from Qualcomm stadium,[48] another was arrested for theft after being found in possession of stolen goods in the Jamul fire area,[49] and two were arrested near the Tecate border crossing.[50]

Air quality and effects on health

The concentration of

Michael Aguirre, citing concerns over weather conditions and air quality, urged the city to consider a voluntary evacuation of the entire city.[51]

Smoke fills the horizon in East San Diego County, October 22, 2007.

Response

California Department of Forestry
's efforts in combating the San Diego wildfires.
Firefighters battle a blaze near Irvine, California

Government agencies and volunteers worked together to mitigate the effects of the fires. According to the state of California's Consolidated Response web page, "There are 17 active fires in Southern California. The priority for fighting fires as of 19:30 on October 21 were the Buckweed, Witch, Harris, Canyon, Ranch, Santiago, and Sedgewick Fires."[52] March Air Reserve Base is the primary staging area for relief supplies as coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.[17]

With many businesses and schools closed, some people used their time off to help others. Officials estimated that 10,000 people were gathered at

CERT teams, in various cities, received their first activation since the program's inception in this region. Trained volunteers provided assistance ranging from coordinating relief, to acting as a fire department auxiliary.[54][55] Religious groups such as Victim Relief Ministries, Giving Children Hope, Hope Force International, Apostolic World Relief, and the Salvation Army responded by opening places of worship, donating supplies, and feeding workers and evacuees.[56][57]

The

Port Alberni, British Columbia on October 25, landing on Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, California. It has a 7,000 gallon capacity. Two other airtankers and their crews from Quebec worked on the fires, part of an annual three-month contract with the state of California.[59]

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in seven California counties where fires burned. President George W. Bush concurred[15] and visited the region on Thursday, October 25, 2007.[60][61]

Rep. Duncan Hunter criticized state fire officials for delaying the use of Marine helicopters until CalFire spotters were in position to coordinate their efforts. However, California Fire Marshal Kate Dargan said that the Marines and officials at CalFire were following procedures worked out with the military after serious problems with air coordination during the 2003 California wildfires. Other state officials also praised the federal response. Aaron McLear, a spokesman for Schwarzenegger, said the governor "is getting everything he needs from the federal government".[62]

NBC Nightly News reported that with the evacuations reaching about 950,000 people, this was the largest peacetime movement of Americans since the Civil War era,[63] although similar evacuation figures were cited for Hurricane Rita[64] and Hurricane Katrina.[65]

Cots prepared for potential evacuees

On November 6, 2007, the state of California reported that the fires were under control. On November 9, the last vole of wildfires were finally contained. According to the state's consolidated report on the fires, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger "called on the Blue Ribbon Task Force to assess the next steps to take at federal, state and local levels of government to prevent and fight future fires. Additionally, the Governor asked the task force to review the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Fire Commission’s recommendations, generated after the 2003 fires, to evaluate if the recommendations are still the best and most effective ways in preventing and fighting fires."[66]

See also

References

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