California wildfires are burning again, with the Camp Fire near Chico the latest large fire to erupt in Northern California, and the Woolsey and Hill Fires burning tens of thousands of acres across Southern California.
The Camp Fire, which burned in Butte County, is now the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history. The Camp Fire was 100% contained by Sunday, Nov. 25, and had injured three firefighters and burned nearly 14,000 homes since it began on Thursday, Nov. 8, according to Cal Fire. At least 85 deaths were reported and 249 people are still unaccounted for, according to the Associated Press. Even though Chico is more than 150 miles north of San Francisco, advisories about unhealthy air quality only just started to lift in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as other parts of Northern California, thanks to rain finally arriving on Wednesday, Nov. 21.
In Southern California, the Woolsey Fire has destroyed parts of the city of Malibu and many high-profile celebrity homes, as well as inland communities from Oak Park to Calabasas. Another SoCal blaze, the Hill Fire, also prompted evacuations and air quality advisories, though the Hill Fire is now fully contained. Statewide, fire officials estimate at least 215,000 people have been evacuated from their homes due to wildfires, according to the Press Democrat.
Google Maps continues to update its 2018 California fire map on the various blazes, as well as a Google Crisis Map with information about specific California wildfires including the Camp Fire, Woolsey Fire, and Hill Fire. The California fire map also includes info about air quality, evacuation orders, shelters, fire containment statistics, road closures, and more.
Google’s 2018 Statewide Fire Map for California lists all the active fires in the state for which California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is responding.
Camp Fire
A large Northern California wildfire, the Camp Fire, began early Thursday, Nov. 8, near Camp Creek Road and Highway 70 in the Feather River Canyon. As of Sunday, Nov. 25, the fire had consumed more than 153,000 acres. So far, the fire is 100% contained, which refers to a fire line that firefighters dig around a blaze in order to stop it from spreading.
The Camp Fire has consumed nearly 14,000 homes. And with rain in the forecast, a new threat looms in addition to the ongoing fires: mudslides.
Although wildfire damage can be immeasurable, the danger is not over after the flames are put out. Structural damage, road instability, damaged trees and power lines are just some of the dangers that exist after a wildfire. https://t.co/uqjxduUbpc pic.twitter.com/VFSngXVwkX
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) November 21, 2018
The entire town of Paradise has basically been destroyed by the devastating fire, most of its 27,000 residents making it to safety before flames engulfed the town’s structures. Evacuation orders continue in Chico and neighboring Butte County towns, some of which have temporarily closed the public schools.
More than 52,000 people are currently displaced due to the wildfire, according to the Chronicle. In a particularly terrible turn of events, Camp Fire evacuees are experiencing a norovirus outbreak that has spread to at least four shelters so far.
In less than two weeks, the #WoolseyFire & #CampFire damaged & destroyed thousands of homes, injured first responders, & took the lives of over 80 individuals. CAL FIRE’s first responders will continue to work through Thanksgiving to protect Californians against further loss. pic.twitter.com/S66E6NtCNv
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) November 21, 2018
CBS13 in Sacramento reported on Thursday, Nov. 8, that California first responders fighting the Camp Fire will receive funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to continue battling the blaze. President Donald Trump visited California on Saturday, Nov. 17 to survey the damage.
➡️ @JerryBrownGov surveys #CampFire damage with state officials, @SecretaryZinke and @FEMA_Brock. Our hearts are with everyone in Butte County. pic.twitter.com/nO38quFT7r
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) November 14, 2018
Woolsey Fire and Hill Fire
In Southern California, two fires ignited tens of thousands of acres overnight between Thursday, Nov. 8 and Friday, Nov. 9. The Woolsey Fire, burning across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, has already engulfed more than 96,000 acres and is 98% contained as of Wednesday, Nov. 21. The Woolsey Fire has forced evacuations from Calabasas to Oak Park to the coastal enclave of Malibu after the fire jumped the 101 freeway on Friday, Nov. 9, according to the Los Angeles Times.
#WoolseyFire Winds are pushing the fire hard in Oak Park now pic.twitter.com/sx5PIgZA4b
— Michael Coons (@Michael_Coons) November 9, 2018
The coastal city of Malibu issued mandatory evacuations on Friday, Nov 9. With just under 13,000 residents, many of them the biggest names in Hollywood entertainment, the city was evacuated along the Pacific Coast Highway, which was temporarily turned into a four-lane, one-way route with all traffic directed southbound. Numerous celebrities with homes in the area including Miley Cyrus, Cher, and Gerard Butler took to social media to share photos of the devastation and offer thanks that they and their loved ones made it out in time.
Returned to my house in Malibu after evacuating. Heartbreaking time across California. Inspired as ever by the courage, spirit and sacrifice of firefighters. Thank you @LAFD. If you can, support these brave men and women at https://t.co/ei7c7F7cZx. pic.twitter.com/AcBcLtKmDU
— Gerard Butler (@GerardButler) November 11, 2018
My house is in that. #WoolseyFire pic.twitter.com/dNLhcpiD38
— RainnWilson (@rainnwilson) November 9, 2018
The Hill Fire in Ventura County is just over 4,500 acres and is now 100% contained, Cal Fire said on Friday, Nov. 16.
With these current extreme fire conditions throughout the state, don’t wait to #evacuate You should already be PREPARED and GO! early. If you see fire approaching, don’t wait to be told to leave. https://t.co/9pM4R3eJxj #ReadyForWildfire pic.twitter.com/DCNDwiKrOa
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) November 16, 2018
In addition to the personal devastation these fires continue to cause, it is expected that the cost to individual homeowners, the state, and insurers will top $19 billion.
Even before fire season began in early 2018, record-setting fires engulfed huge swaths of the Golden State, claiming the lives of numerous firefighters and civilians trying to flee the flames. The Mendocino Complex Fire, which was finally contained in August at more than 410,000 acres, ended up being the largest complex fire in recorded California history.
With late autumn winds fanning the flames of the California fires, causing some blazes to grow, these two dynamic maps are worth bookmarking, so you can stay up to date with the latest updates from affected areas in Northern California as well as Southern California.
Fortune will continue to update this post as California’s 2018 fires continue to rage.
