California is burning, yet again. Dozens of fires are spreading across the Northern parts of the state, with more than 20 individual fires across the five counties in the larger Bay Area alone. The damage is substantial and ever-growing — so far and the amount of land burned is already worse than last year’s biggest fire, the Kincade Fire. Tens of thousands of people are currently under an evacuation order.
Because there are so many fires, Cal Fire has given three clusters the names “Lightning Complex.” Those are:
- LNU Lightning Complex: In Napa and Sonoma (Lake-Napa Unit), which has spread to Solano and Yolo counties, primarily affecting the community of Vacaville.
- CZU August Lightning Complex: In San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties (stands for Cal Fire’s San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit).
- SCU Lightning Complex: In Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus counties (Santa Clara Unit). This covers 20 separate fires alone.
Here is a complete list of all the fires currently burning in the region, thanks to SF Gate.
The fires come after record-breaking heat waves throughout our region, as well as unusual and severe lightning storms. The National Weather Service is warning that the smoke is creating “very poor” air quality in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, and will for the “foreseeable future.” Time to get out your air purifiers and close your windows — yes, during a heat wave.
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This is a fast-moving situation with many moving parts. Here are the places to turn to for live updates on where the flames are spreading, what evacuations are being ordered, and how you can help victims.
Stay safe and stay updated.
The San Francisco Chronicle
The Los Angeles Times Wildfire Tracker
Cal Fire Map
The Washington Post
The New York Times
CNN
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