Temperatures are increasing in Southern California and so is the risk for wildfires. As a result, the Los Angeles Fire Department is warning the public how to prevent and prepare for fires. Camilla Rambaldi reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
California is no stranger to fires during its hot summer months, but new statistics show a dramatic increase in spring fire activity over last year in the fire-prone state.
Since the start of 2024, wildfires have burned 1,462% more acres than the same period (Jan. 1-June 19) last year, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) on Wednesday.
California is experiencing an early fire year. 🔥 Wildfires are up 9% this spring, but acres burned have skyrocketed by 1,462% (from 5,747 to 89,784 acres) compared to the same period last year (Jan 1 - Jun 19). 95% of these wildfires are human-caused, fueled by dry grasses and… pic.twitter.com/klpsOvBexJ
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) June 20, 2024
Updated figures released Thursday, the first day of summer, show 93,667 acres have burned so far this year, a staggering number compared to the 5,863 acres burned during the same period last year.
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Though Cal Fire reports that the number of wildfires is up 9 percent since last spring, the fires this year have been much more expansive, leading to a wildly higher acreage.
As of Thursday morning, Cal Fire has reported 14 fires estimated to be at least 1,000 acres. In particular, this includes three fires burning at over 10,000 acres.
The Sites Fire in the Sacramento Valley — which began Monday afternoon and is estimated to be 19,000 acres — is reported to have been 15% contained since Thursday morning.
The Post Fire spanning Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, began on Saturday and is estimated at 15,600 acres. As of Wednesday, the fire is reported to have been nearly 40% contained.
And in San Joaquin County, the Corral Fire — estimated to be about 14,100 acres — has been 100% contained.
Cal Fire says that 95% of these fires are human-caused, and are subsequently fueled by dry grasses and strong winds.
For more information on fire incidents in California, Cal Fire says people can check online.
