Just a month into the budget year, California has already spent more than one-quarter of its annual fire budget, at least $125 million, state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Mike Mohler said Wednesday.
Following years of drought and a summer of record-breaking heat, immense tracts of forests, chaparral and grasslands have become tinder that allows even a small spark to explode into a devouring blaze, authorities said.
“Were being surprised. Every year is teaching the fire authorities new lessons,” Gov. Jerry Brown told reporters. “Were in uncharted territory.”
More than 13,000 firefighters are battling fires with the help of crews from as far away as Florida but Brown repeated predictions from fire officials that California can expect a future of devastating fires, in part because of the changing climate.
“People are doing everything they can, but nature is very powerful and were not on the side of nature,” Brown said.
Structures burn along Highway 74 near Mountain Center as Cranston fire continues to grow in the San Bernardino National Forest Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A CalFire fighter hosed down hot spots on one of the homes on Deer Foot Lane burned in the fast moving Cranston fire as it grows to more than over 3,500 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest in Idyllwild on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- SoundThe gallery will resume inseconds
A strike team walk up Highway 74 near the Hurkey Creek area on day 3 of the Cranston Fire in Idyllwild on Friday, July 27, 2018. (Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Firefighters make their way up steep terrain to look for hot spots in the Apple Canyon area on day 3 of the Cranston Fire in Idyllwild on Friday, July 27, 2018. (Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cranston fire burning near Idyllwild on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riverside County CalFire firefighter Matt Lathrop hoses down hotspots in the back porch of home near Mountain Center as Cranston fire continues to grow in the San Bernardino National Forest Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Emergency vehicles sit parked in the Apple Canyon area on day 3 of the Cranston Fire in Idyllwild on Friday, July 27, 2018. (Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Mountain Center residents Josh Thomas, left and son Tristan Thomas, above talk others in the parking lot of the Lake Hemet Market as they watch a helicopter make a drop on the Cranston fire in the San Bernardino National Forest in Lake Hemet on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A water dropping helicopter makes a drop on the Cranston fire above Camp Keene Road along HWY 74 north of Lake Hemet in the San Bernardino National Forest in Mountain Center on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A firefighter sprays water onto a structure at Crossroads Church as firefighters battle the Cranston fire on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A strike team walk up Highway 74 near the Hurkey Creek area on day 3 of the Cranston Fire in Idyllwild on Friday, July 27, 2018. (Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A CalFire fighter hosed down hot spots on one of the homes on Deer Foot Lane burned in the fast moving Cranston fire as it grows to more than over 3,500 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest in Idyllwild on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
CalFire fighters walk past and look at one of the homes that was unable to be saved on Deer Foot Lane during the fast moving Cranston fire as it grows to more than over 3,500 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest in Idyllwild on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Captain John Tanaka with the San Diego Fire Rescue Department checks the wind speeds in the Apple Canyon area on day 3 of the Cranston Fire in Idyllwild on Friday, July 27, 2018. (Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A plane makes fire retardant drop over Cranston fire burning near Idyllwild on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
CalFire fighter/paramedic Kyle McDermott of Beaumont Station 66 looks through a home on Deer Foot Lane which burned in the fast moving Cranston fire as it grows to more than over 3,500 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest in Idyllwild on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Two chairs are left on a rock over looking the valley below behind one of the homes which was a complete loss as the Cranston fire burned four buildings on Deer Foot Lane and more than 3,500 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest in Idyllwild on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
CalFire fighter/paramedic Kyle McDermott of Beaumont Station 66 hosed down hot spots on one of the homes on Deer Foot Lane burned in the fast moving Cranston fire as it grows to more than over 3,500 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest in Idyllwild on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A structure burn near Mountain Center as Cranston Cranston fire continues to grow in the San Bernardino National Forest Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
CalFire Riverside County Station 23 hoses down hot spots around some of the homes saved on Deer Foot Lane during the fast moving Cranston fire as it grows to more than over 3,500 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest in Idyllwild on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Flames from the fast moving Cranston fire more than 60 ft. high jump HWY 74 at the top of the hill as it grows to over 3,500 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest above Hemet on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A water dropping helicopter flies back to Lake Hemet to reload to make another drop on the Cranston fire burns above Camp Keene Road along HWY 74 north of Lake Hemet in the San Bernardino National Forest in Mountain Center on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Firefighters battle a spot fire burning next to Crossroads Church in Mountain Center during Cranston fire on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
as Cranston fire burning near Idyllwild on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cranston fire burning near Idyllwild on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Deer move away from the fire as Cranston fire burning near Mountain Center on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Santa Clara County firefighter Chuck Springmeyer sprays water over a spot fire burning next to Crossroads Church in Mountain Center during Cranston fire on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riverside County CalFire firefighter Matt Lathrop hoses down hotspots in the back porch of home near Mountain Center as Cranston fire continues to grow in the San Bernardino National Forest Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Lawn furnitures burn at a home near Mountain Center as Cranston fire continues to grow in the San Bernardino National Forest Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riverside City firefighter Eric Le Blanc hoses a hot spot on day 3 of the Cranston Fire near Idyllwild on Friday, July 27, 2018. (Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riverside City firefighter Eric Le Blanc hoses a hot spot on day 3 of the Cranston Fire near Idyllwild on Friday, July 27, 2018. (Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Firefighters keep an eye on a hot spot on day 3 of the Cranston Fire near Idyllwild on Friday, July 27, 2018. (Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A plane drops fire retardant near the Apple Canyon area on day 3 of the Cranston Fire in Idyllwild on Friday, July 27, 2018. (Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A firefighters puts water on hot spots that flare up along Highway 74 in Mountain Center on day 3 of the Cranston Fire near Idyllwild on Friday, July 27, 2018. (Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A firefighters puts water on hot spots that flare up along Highway 74 in Mountain Center on day 3 of the Cranston Fire near Idyllwild on Friday, July 27, 2018. (Photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Show Caption of Expand
The largest blaze burned in the Redding area, in Shasta County north of Sacramento. Six people, including two firefighters, have died and the fire has destroyed 1,060 homes and nearly 500 other buildings, including barns and warehouses, making it the sixth most destructive wildfire in California history, state fire officials said.
A California Air National Guard C-130 plane dropped fire retardant Tuesday on the Carr fire, which burned at least 965 homes and killed six people in and around Redding. National Guard troops in Redding are helping the local population.
Tens of thousands of people remain under evacuation orders.
However, authorities who had feared there might be more casualties reported Wednesday that all those who had been reported missing had been located.
The fire, which is nearly twice the size of Sacramento, was only 35 percent contained after more than a week.
“Unstable conditions, shifting winds, steep terrain, and dry fuels continue to challenge firefighters,” a state fire update warned Wednesday evening, noting that 35 mph wind gusts were expected on ridge tops that could whip up the flames.
Meanwhile, at least three new fires erupted Wednesday in the Sierra Nevada region, including a blaze in Placer County that had consumed 1 1/2 square miles of land.
Related links
- What does containment and mop up of a wildfire mean?
- How do wildfires start? Usually with people
- Fire officials to Southern California: Get ready for daily and difficult wildfire calls
- Could firefighting at Christmas become the new normal in California?
North and east of San Francisco, two wildfires that began Tuesday near the communities of Covelo and Yuba City continued to burn through grass, brush and timberlands. The fire near Covelo prompted evacuation orders for about 60 homes in the farming and ranching area on the edge of the Mendocino National Forest.
Twin fires also burned in Mendocino and Lake counties. They burned 14 homes and threatened 12,000 more.
A 100-square mile fire near Yosemite National Park prompted evacuation orders Wednesday for the community of Wawona inside the park, which has fewer than 200 residents. Yosemite Valley and other areas of the park have been closed to tourists since July 25 because of heavy smoke from the fire, which has burned nearly 64,000 acres and is only 39 percent contained.
[contf] [contfnew] 
daily news
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
