Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  •  

California Makes Progress On Some Wildfires, But The Biggest Remain Largely Uncontained

Monday, August 24, 2020 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
download audio
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Noah Berger / AP Photo

Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires leap above Butts Canyon Road on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, as firefighters work to contain the blaze in unincorporated Lake County, Calif.

Noah Berger / AP Photo

Lightning in the last 24 hours ignited at least 10 new fires in California, adding to the more than 600 already burning statewide. 

Two of them have grown to be among the largest wildfires on record in state history. The SCU and LNU Complex fires in Northern California have each burned roughly 350,000 acres, second only to 2018’s Mendocino Complex Fire, which burned over 450,000 acres. 

At least seven people have died.

At a press conference Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom offered some optimism. Red flag warnings were canceled in parts of the state, including the Bay Area, as winds calmed and the threat of lightning subsided. Crews have also made significant progress containing some incidents, including the Lake and Loyalton fires. 

“It’s a testament to the incredible firefighters that are out there on the front lines,” Newsom said.

Still, he stressed the coming week will be crucial for the state to get a handle on the historic scale of wildfires. While the heat wave has eased, Newsom warned that weather conditions pose a continued threat of new or growing fires.

Cal Fire has deployed over 2,400 engines, or 96% of its fleet, according to an announcement Monday. Over 14,000 firefighters are on the front lines. Yet Cal Fire is struggling to contain some of the larger blazes in the state.The SCU Complex Fire, east of San Jose, is 10% contained, and the LNU Complex Fire, stretching from Napa to Yolo County is 22% contained. 

The latest numbers on the Aug. Lightning Siege that has charred 1.2 million acres since Aug. 15. We are grateful for the 91 fire engines from Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, Oregon, Utah, Washington to assist us in battling more than 2 dozen major wildfires. pic.twitter.com/h3Bj1SyUf3

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) August 24, 2020

The CZU Complex Fire, in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, has burned about 78,000 acres and is 13% contained. The fire threatens a number of smaller communities in the forested hills north of Santa Cruz and has burned hundreds of redwood trees at Big Basin. 

Newsom pointed to climate change as the driver of this year’s destructive wildfire season.

“We are dealing with different climate conditions [resulting] in fires the likes of which we haven’t seen in modern recorded history,” he said. 

Evacuations have impacted more than 100,000 Californians, though some orders have started to lift. As the state shelters over 2,000 evacuees, coronavirus is a top concern. More than half are at “non-congregate” sites, such as hotels, to maintain social distancing.  

The state is also sending surgical and N95 masks to shelter sites, at a time when protective equipment is already in high demand. N95 masks help mitigate the spread of coronavirus and prevent smoke inhalation; surgical masks are only effective at minimizing the spread of the virus. 

California continues to bend the curve of coronavirus cases, though Newsom has stressed the need for more progress. The state has a 7-day average of 5,798 cases per day. Hospitalizations and ICU admissions have both decreased by roughly 20% in the last 14 days. 

Five more counties have dropped off the coronavirus watch list: Calaveras, Napa, Mono, Orange and Sierra. Thirty-five counties remain on the list. Newsom says the state will issue updated guidelines on reopening establishments this week. 

California recorded 18 coronavirus deaths in the last 24-hour reporting period. In the last 2 weeks, the state recorded a daily average of 128.

Watch as California Gov. Gavin Newsom gives an update on the state's response to wildfires burning throughout the state and the coronavirus pandemic.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  
Was this story useful?
yes
no

Will you help us improve our fires coverage? Head to our wildfire survey page to tell us what you think.

    More about Coronavirus

  • NIAID-RML via AP

    Coronavirus In California: Latest Updates And Resources

    The coronavirus has impacted nearly every aspect of life in California and around the world. Here are resources and all our coverage at CapRadio and NPR.

    More about wildfire

  • Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

    California Wildfires: Latest Updates

    CapRadio provides the latest information and updates on wildfires hitting the state, and resources for listeners to help prepare, follow and respond to fire.

 Coronaviruswildfire

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

California 2022 primary voter FAQ

May 19, 2022

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli and courtesy of Rafa Garcia

Three Democrats square off to represent Sacramento in the state Senate

May 23, 2022

Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock

The Great Culling: Which California bills did legislators kill?

May 20, 2022

Most Viewed

Suspected monkeypox case reported in Sacramento County

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

Some living in 209 area code will need to switch to 350

A Sacramento County nonprofit is offering to pay $3,000 worth of bills if you test positive for COVID-19 at their clinic

A married couple turns an out-of-commission helicopter into a camper

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Suspected monkeypox case reported in Sacramento County

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

Some living in 209 area code will need to switch to 350

A Sacramento County nonprofit is offering to pay $3,000 worth of bills if you test positive for COVID-19 at their clinic

A married couple turns an out-of-commission helicopter into a camper

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.