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2008 California wildfires

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox wildfire

| title = 2008 California wildfires

|image = Summer 2008 California wildfires on July 9.jpg

|caption = Some of the wildfires as seen from space during the height of the summer outbreak on July 9, 2008.

|reference ={{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2008|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2008_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924081052/http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2008_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Wildland Fire Accidents and Fatalities by Year|url=http://www.nifc.gov/safety/reports/year.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=28 August 2015|archive-date=17 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917060451/http://www.nifc.gov/safety/reports/year.pdf|url-status=dead}}

| cost = Over $651.5 million (2008 USD){{cite web|url=http://calfire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/2008Summary.pdf|title=CAL FIRE 2008 Wildland Fire Summary|publisher=CalFire|date=September 2011|access-date=December 11, 2017|archive-date=November 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125173958/http://calfire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/2008Summary.pdf|url-status=dead}}

| total_fires = 6,255

| total_area = {{convert|1,593,690|acre|km2}}

| injuries = At least 93

| fatalities = 32 (13 firefighters){{cite web|url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/siege/2008/2008FireSiege_full-book_r6.pdf|title=2008 June Fire Siege|publisher=Cal Fire|date=September 2008|access-date=2 September 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924013241/http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/siege/2008/2008FireSiege_full-book_r6.pdf|url-status=dead}}

| is_season = yes

| year = 2008

| season_name = California wildfires

}}

The 2008 wildfire season was one of California's most devastating in the 21st century. While 6,255 fires occurred, about two-thirds as many as in 2007, the total area burned— {{convert|1,593,690|acre|km2|abbr=off}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/11397/fires-acres-all-agencies-thru-2018.pdf|title=California Wildfires and Acres for all Jurisdictions|publisher=CalFire|date=August 24, 2020|access-date=September 11, 2020|archive-date=December 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228012125/https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/11397/fires-acres-all-agencies-thru-2018.pdf|url-status=dead}}—far exceeded that of previous years.

By July 5, 2008, 328 wildfires were burning, and those fires were only 81% contained.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aZK3Eq8VW6Zk&refer=us/|title=California's Wildfires Have Scorched 527,000 acres|publisher=Bloomberg|first=Nancy|last=Moran|author2=Brandt, Nadja |access-date=2008-07-07|date=2008-07-05}} For the first time since 1977, the US military helped with ground-based firefighting, when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger dispatched 400 California National Guard troops, including Chief Medical Officer Susan Pangelinan, to manage fire lines.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna25494278|title=Military joining fire battles up, down California|work=NBC News|date=2008-07-02|access-date=2008-07-07}} He said the number of fires had stretched the state's fire-fighting resources thin. "One never has resources for 1,700 fires. Who has the resources for that?" Schwarzenegger said, adding, "Something is happening, clearly. There's more need for resources than ever before... it's fire season all year round."{{cite news|title='Critical day' for growing Goleta fire; Big Sur blaze only 5% contained |url=http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-fires6-2008jul06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930154852/http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-fires6-2008jul06 |archive-date=2011-09-30 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=2008-07-05 |first=Tami |last=Abdollah |access-date=2008-07-07 |url-status=live }}

Fires

Below is a list of all fires that exceeded {{convert|1000|acre}} during the 2008 fire season.{{cite web|title=Large Fires 2008|url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentstatsevents_179.pdf|website=CAL FIRE|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=18 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118020210/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentstatsevents_179.pdf|url-status=dead}} The list is taken from CAL FIRE's list of large fires.

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
Name

! County

! Acres

! Km{{sup|2}}

! Start Date

! Contained Date

! Notes

Wawona NwMariposa{{convert|1130|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}April 9, 2008April 19, 2008
Honey BeeTulare{{convert|1225|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}May 6, 2008May 23, 2008
ColyearTehama{{convert|1331|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}May 6, 2008May 9, 2008
AvocadoFresno{{convert|1100|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}May 20, 2008May 21, 2008
SummitSanta Cruz{{convert|4270|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}May 22, 2008May 27, 2008
CloverTulare{{convert|15300|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}May 28, 2008July 20, 2008
IndiansMonterey{{convert|81378|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 8, 2008July 10, 2008
JacksonSacramento{{convert|6400|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 10, 2008June 12, 2008
OphirButte{{convert|1600|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 10, 2008June 13, 2008
41Madera{{convert|3300|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 10, 2008June 11, 2008
LagrangeTuolumne{{convert|1346|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 10, 2008June 11, 2008
HumboldtButte{{convert|23344|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 11, 2008June 21, 2008
WhiskeyTehama{{convert|7783|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 12, 2008June 22, 2008
Albion River LightningMendocino{{convert|1000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 20, 2008June 30, 2008
Lime ComplexTrinity{{convert|98715|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 20, 2008August 15, 2008
Mad ComplexTrinity{{convert|3705|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 20, 2008July 21, 2008
Hells Half ComplexTrinity{{convert|15146|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 20, 2008July 28, 2008
South ComplexHumboldt{{convert|29327|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 20, 2008September 15, 2008
Brown ComplexSan Benito{{convert|3870|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008June 24, 2008
West BranchButte{{convert|3206|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008June 21, 2008
FreyButte{{convert|10000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008June 21, 2008
Flea ValleyButte{{convert|1248|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008June 21, 2008
Flea Valley 2Butte{{convert|1248|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008June 21, 2008
ParadiseHumboldt{{convert|1076|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008August 1, 2008
Blue 2 ComplexSiskiyou{{convert|82186|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 20, 2008Merged into the
Klamath Theater Complex Fire
PopcornLassen{{convert|3000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008June 22, 2008
Cub ComplexLassen{{convert|19718|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 20, 2008
Peterson ComplexLassen{{convert|7842|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 2, 2008
WildNapa{{convert|4200|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008June 26, 2008
Basin ComplexMonterey{{convert|162818|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 27, 2008
Wagers LightningMendocino{{convert|3000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008June 21, 2008
Jack Smith LightningMendocino{{convert|3000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 13, 2008
Mallo BMendocino{{convert|4466|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 17, 2008
Squaw 1 Lightning 2Mendocino{{convert|3000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 13, 2008
Red Mountain 1Mendocino{{convert|7515|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008August 1, 2008
Gate LightningMendocino{{convert|3000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 13, 2008
Soda ComplexLake{{convert|8632|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 26, 2008
Canyon ComplexPlumas{{convert|47680|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008September 30, 2008
Iron Alps ComplexTrinity{{convert|105805|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008September 9, 200810 fatalities
Sta 57 Ono Cdf Igo 2Shasta{{convert|4000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 24, 2008
Whitmore Old Crow C2Shasta{{convert|2054|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 15, 2008
EO2AShasta{{convert|1200|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 6, 2008
SteinShasta{{convert|1148|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 7, 2008
MoonShasta{{convert|6030|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008August 9, 2008
Platina 4Trinity{{convert|12980|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 4, 2008
Lewiston 8Trinity{{convert|1311|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 23, 2008
LakeheadShasta{{convert|27936|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008August 23, 2008
OliverMariposa{{convert|2200|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008June 26, 2008
North MountainTuolumne{{convert|2889|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 3, 2008
American River ComplexPlacer{{convert|20541|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 30, 2008
Yuba River ComplexSierra{{convert|4254|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 15, 2008
Whiskeytown ComplexShasta{{convert|6420|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008July 19, 2008
Klamath Theater ComplexSiskiyou{{convert|192038|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 21, 2008September 30, 20082 firefighters killed.
PopcornLassen{{convert|3000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 22, 2008July 8, 2008
Mill ComplexTehama{{convert|2100|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 22, 2008June 29, 2008
WalkerLake{{convert|15000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 22, 2008June 29, 2008
Orr Springs Rd Ukv 2Mendocino{{convert|3000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 22, 2008July 10, 2008
5-8 Cliff LightningMendocino{{convert|1000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 22, 2008July 13, 2008
VentureShasta{{convert|1912|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 22, 2008July 4, 2008
CorralLassen{{convert|12500|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 23, 2008July 7, 2008
OliverMariposa{{convert|2789|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 23, 2008July 6, 2008
Mill CreekTehama{{convert|13580|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 24, 2008July 1, 2008
PiuteKern{{convert|37026|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 28, 2008July 25, 2008
HardyMendocino{{convert|5581|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}June 30, 2008June 30, 2008
GapSanta Barbara{{convert|9443|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 1, 2008July 28, 2008
Butch LightningMendocino{{convert|2800|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 4, 2008July 4, 2008
Lost Pipe LightningMendocino{{convert|1200|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 4, 2008July 10, 2008
Jack Smith LightningMendocino{{convert|2000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 4, 2008July 15, 2008
Albion LightningMendocino{{convert|3000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 4, 2008July 8, 2008
Horse LightningMendocino{{convert|1000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 4, 2008July 8, 2008
Orr Series LightningMendocino{{convert|3000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 4, 2008July 13, 2008
Montgomery Flat LightningMendocino{{convert|3000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 4, 2008July 15, 2008
Alder Creek BeachMendocino{{convert|1000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 7, 2008July 7, 2008
TehipiteFresno{{convert|11596|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 19, 2008November 11, 2008
PantherSiskiyou{{convert|72344|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 24, 2008September 30, 2008
TelegraphMariposa{{convert|34091|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 25, 2008September 15, 2008
RichPlumas{{convert|6112|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 29, 2008August 10, 2008
CraigButte{{convert|2001|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}August 3, 2008August 11, 2008
RimButte{{convert|1651|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}August 13, 2008August 13, 2008
EmpireButte{{convert|2000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}August 13, 2008August 13, 2008
Camp Beldon and PitButte{{convert|47647|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}July 8, 2008August 13, 2008
SmokeyButte{{convert|1324|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}August 13, 2008August 13, 2008
JackSiskiyou{{convert|6900|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}August 17, 2008August 22, 2008
GladdingPlacer{{convert|1000|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}September 1, 2008September 3, 2008
GulchShasta{{convert|2847|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}September 7, 2008September 11, 2008
HiddenTulare{{convert|3668|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}September 10, 2008September 30, 2008
ChalkMonterey{{convert|16269|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}September 25, 2008October 29, 2008
NovemberSan Diego{{convert|1400|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}October 8, 2008October 9, 2008
MarekLos Angeles{{convert|4824|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}October 12, 2008October 16, 2008
SesnonLos Angeles{{convert|14703|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}October 13, 2008October 18, 2008
JuliettSan Diego{{convert|4026|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}October 13, 2008October 17, 2008
LackermanButte{{convert|1310|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}October 23, 2008October 23, 2008
TeaSanta Barbara{{convert|1940|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}November 13, 2008November 17, 2008
SayreLos Angeles{{convert|11,200|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}November 14, 2008November 20, 2008
Freeway ComplexRiverside{{convert|30305|acres|km2|1|disp=tablecen}}November 15, 2008November 22, 2008

Summer fires

The Summer 2008 fires were a concentrated outbreak of wildfires during the late spring and summer of 2008. Over 3,596 individual fires were burning at the height of the period, burning large portions of forests and chaparral in California, injuring at least 34 individuals and killing 32. The majority of the fires were started by lightning from dry thunderstorms on June 20,{{cite news|title=Firefighters battling hundreds of blazes|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/24/BAS011DN5B.DTL&hw=wildfire&sn=050&sc=203|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=2008-06-23|access-date=2008-07-07|first=Demian|last=Bulwa}} although some earlier fires ignited during mid-May. International aid from Greece, Cyprus, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and New Zealand helped fight the fires.{{cite news|title=Bush surveys record-breaking California wildfires|first=Deb|last=Riechmann|date=2008-07-17|access-date=2008-07-17 |url = https://www.usatoday.com/weather/wildfires/2008-07-17-california-wildfires_N.htm|work=USA Today}}

The first of the wildfires was the Big Horn Fire, which ignited on May 13.{{Cite web |url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=257 |title=Big Horn Fire General Information |access-date=2015-08-14 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402181840/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=257 |url-status=dead }} Three other minor wildfires ignited subsequently, but were extinguished by May 17. On May 20, the Avocado Fire ignited in Fresno County, only to be extinguished 2 days later.{{Cite web |url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=262 |title=Avocado Fire General Information |access-date=2015-08-14 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100122/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=262 |url-status=dead }} On May 22, 2008, the human-caused Summit Fire broke out in the Santa Cruz Mountains, which became the first major fire.{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9344864?nclick_check=1|title=Homes burn as wildfire rages in Santa Cruz Mountains|work=San Jose Mercury-News|date=22 May 2008|access-date=2008-08-02}}

On July 5, 2008, California Governor Schwarzenegger commented that "I've been driving up and down the state of California going to all the various fires, and you can imagine, this state is very prepared for fire, but when you wake up one morning and have 500 fires across the state, it was a real shock to me... only to find the next morning there were 1,000 fires, and the next morning 1,400 fires, and then 1,700 fires igniting over 14 days."

The Gap Fire near Goleta in Santa Barbara County burned {{convert|8,357|acre|ha|abbr=off}}.{{cite web|last=Jablon|first=Rovert|title=California wildfires strain state's resources|url=http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_9798240?source=rv|date=2008-07-05|access-date=2008-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717002534/http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_9798240?source=rv|archive-date=2011-07-17|url-status=dead}} The fire was contained on July 29, after several weeks of activity.{{cite web|work=San Diego Union-Tribune|date=2008-07-29|title=9,443-acre Goleta wildfire fully containment [sic]|url=http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20080729-0349-ca-californiafires-goleta.html|access-date=2015-08-14|archive-date=2012-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830144417/http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20080729-0349-ca-californiafires-goleta.html|url-status=dead}}

By July 11, 2008, it was reported that a total of {{convert|793,483|acre|ha|abbr=off}} was burned, a total exceeding the initial estimate of {{convert|510,000|acre|ha|abbr=off}} burned by the October 2007 California wildfires.{{cite news | url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fire24oct24,0,5795853.story?coll=la-home-center | title=1,155 homes—and counting | first = Christine |last=Hanley |author2=Janet Wilson |author3=Mitchell Landsberg | newspaper= Los Angeles Times | date=October 24, 2007|access-date=2007-10-24}} On July 12, 2008, the area burned reached {{convert|801,726|acre|ha|abbr=off}}, exceeding the estimated {{convert|800,000|acre|ha|abbr=off}} burned by the 2003 California wildfires, making the Summer 2008 wildfires the greatest wildfire event in Californian history, in terms of burned area. On that date 20,274 personnel had been committed to fight the fires. Total resources included 467 hand crews, 1,503 engines, 423 water tenders, 291 bulldozers, 142 helicopters, 400 soldiers and numerous air tankers. The fire was responsible for the deaths of 23 individuals.{{cite news | title=Big Sur Evacuated as Wildfires Race to the California Coast | url =http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2008/2008-07-02-093.asp | access-date = July 2, 2008 | date = July 2, 2008 | publisher = Environment News Service}}{{cite news | title=California Continues To Burn | url=http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/32141/Northern-California-Continues-To-Burn.html | access-date = July 4, 2008 | date = July 4, 2008 | first = Bill | last = Johnson | publisher = Mymotherlode}}

On July 25, a blaze sparked by target shooting broke out in Mariposa County, in the Sierra Nevada foothills of central California.{{cite news| url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/07/27/fire.yosemite/?iref=hpmostpop | work=CNN | title=2,000 homes threatened by 'erratic' wildfire near Yosemite - CNN.com | date=2008-07-27 | access-date=2010-05-24}} By the following day, the Telegraph Fire had gone from {{convert|1,000|to|16,000|acre|ha|abbr=off}}, and within days had destroyed 21 homes in the community of Midpines. Residents were evacuated from approximately 300 homes that were immediately threatened, with an additional 4,000 homes placed on standby for evacuation in Midpines, Greeley Hill, and Coulterville.{{cite news |first=Garance |last=Burke |title=Wildfire threatens homes and vacations in Yosemite |agency=Associated Press |date=July 29, 2008 |url=http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=119175 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110514033840/http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=119175 |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 14, 2015 }}

During August, wildfire activity began to diminish, although there were still hundreds of wildfires still burning. On August 29, wildfire activity had largely ended, although three more wildfires ignited after September 1,{{Cite web |url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_archived?archive_year=2008 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-08-14 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402124848/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_archived?archive_year=2008 |url-status=dead }} beginning with the Gladding Fire.{{Cite web |url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=311 |title=Gladding Fire General Information |access-date=2015-08-14 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402134801/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=311 |url-status=dead }} On September 10, the Colony Fire was 100% contained, ending the last of the Summer 2008 California wildfires.{{Cite web |url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=320 |title=Colony Fire General Information |access-date=2015-08-14 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132922/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=320 |url-status=dead }} The Summer 2008 wildfires burned a total of {{convert|1,162,197|acre|km2}} between May 2008 and September 2008, comprising the vast majority of burned land by wildfires in California in 2008.{{cite web|title=All statewide fires from 6/22/08 to 8/11/08|url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/downloads/incidents/All_statewide_Fires_0622_081108_a.pdf|work=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection|access-date=2015-08-14|archive-date=2015-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924013224/http://www.fire.ca.gov/downloads/incidents/All_statewide_Fires_0622_081108_a.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Wildland Fire Information|url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents|publisher=CAL FIRE|access-date=2008-07-07|archive-date=2011-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009065817/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents|url-status=dead}}

In total, the Summer 2008 wildfires burned a total of {{convert|1,161,197|acre|ha|0}}, which accounts for 84% of the total area burned during the 2008 wildfire season.{{cite web|title=All statewide fires from 6/22/08 to 8/11/08|url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/downloads/incidents/All_statewide_Fires_0622_081108_a.pdf|work=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection|access-date=2015-08-14|archive-date=2015-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924013224/http://www.fire.ca.gov/downloads/incidents/All_statewide_Fires_0622_081108_a.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-fires3-2008jul03?content=ntially+whipping+up+the+blaze+anew.&single_page=y#show|title=Push is on to stall Goleta fire before winds; more evacuations at Big Sur|first=Catherine|last=Saillant|author2=Bailey, Eric |newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=2008-07-02|access-date=2008-07-07}} In addition, the Summer 2008 fires cost over $92.38 million (2008 USD) to fight.{{cite web |url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_archived?archive_year=2008 |title=Archived Fires 2008 |publisher=cdfdata.fire.ca.gov |access-date=2015-08-21 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402124848/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_archived?archive_year=2008 |url-status=dead }}

The Basin Complex Fire in the Ventana Wilderness became the third largest wildfire in California's history based on size (until it was surpassed in size by the 2013 Rim Fire), and also the second-costliest wildfire to extinguish in U.S. history.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

= Weather =

The fires broke out after three years of below-normal rainfall dehydrated much of California's forests and woodlands, making them prone to wildfires. Spring 2008 for California was the driest on record for many locations; for example, San Francisco registered only {{convert|0.67|in|mm}} of rain out of a normal of {{convert|5.18|in|cm|0}} from March to May.{{cite web|title=Dry weather, spring freeze cost local farmers millions|url=http://lakeconews.com/content/view/4599/764/|first=Elizabeth|last=Larson|date=2008-06-16|access-date=2008-07-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617214938/http://lakeconews.com/content/view/4599/764/|archive-date=2008-06-17|url-status=dead}} As vegetation turned into bone-dry tinder in early June, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought for the first time in 17 years.{{cite news|title=Governor declares drought in California|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/05/MNF5113OBN.DTL&hw=drought&sn=030&sc=625|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|first=Kelly|last=Zito|author2=Yi, Matthew |date=2008-06-05|access-date=2008-07-07}} Dry thunderstorms and lightning, rarely seen on the California coastline in June, rolled onshore on the weekend of June 20–21. The storm unleashed 25,000 to 26,000 dry lightning strikes across Northern and Central California, igniting more than 2,000 fires.{{cite news|title=Fire season may get worse|url=http://www.sacbee.com/fires/story/1047393.html|newspaper=Sacramento Bee|date=2008-06-29|access-date=2008-07-07|first=Chris|last=Bowman |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080705110023/http://www.sacbee.com/fires/story/1047393.html |archive-date = July 5, 2008}}{{cite web|title=Lightning storm sparks 800 plus fires in California |url=http://www.meteogroup.co.uk/uk/home/weather/weather_news/news/archive/2008/june/ch/320dbc4565/article/lightning_storm_sparks_800_plus_fires_in_california.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721215310/http://www.meteogroup.co.uk/uk/home/weather/weather_news/news/archive/2008/june/ch/320dbc4565/article/lightning_storm_sparks_800_plus_fires_in_california.html |archive-date=2011-07-21 |publisher=MeteoGroup |access-date=2008-07-07 |date=2008-06-24 |first=Marcus |last=Wohlsen |url-status=live }} The number of wildfires skyrocketed in the days after the thunderstorms and high daily daytime temperatures of over {{convert|120|F|C|lk=on|abbr=on|0}} dramatically increased the various fires' growth. The same thunderstorms also caused fires in Oregon.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

A heat wave commenced on July 7, with temperatures in inland locations, such as the Central Valley soaring above {{convert|115|F|C|abbr=on|0}}. Lake Berryessa recorded a high temperature of {{convert|126|F|C|abbr=on|0}}, prompting weather agencies like the National Weather Service to issue high fire danger warnings.{{cite news|title=Hot weather brings smog, fire warnings|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/07/BAKJ11L3KM.DTL|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=2008-07-07|access-date=2008-07-08|first=Demian|last=Bulwa}} These near to record-breaking temperatures concerned many firefighters, who feared that the high heat, low humidity, and high-elevation winds could make firefighting more strenuous.{{cite news|title=Inland temperatures heading into record territory|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/08/BA0K11LL5G.DTL|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=2008-07-08|access-date=2008-07-08|first=John|last=Coté}}{{cite news|title=Big Sur fire crews worry about hotter weather|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/08/BA6D11L4LS.DTL|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=2008-07-08|access-date=2008-07-08 |last2=Talyor |first2=Michael|first1=Meredith|last1=May}}

=Contributing factors=

John Juskie, a National Weather Service science officer, was quoted in June 2008 in the Los Angeles Times stating "in historic terms, we're at record dry levels." The spring of 2008 not only broke the record for least inches of rainfall, at 0.17 of an inch, it represented less than one-third of the previous record low of 0.55 of an inch of rainfall in 1934.

A record lack of rainfall, severely dry vegetation and uncharacteristically windy weather combined to create tinderbox conditions across Northern California. In most areas of Northern California, the grasses and brush were as dry in June as they normally would be in October. Moisture content was less than 2%, compared with about 40% normally for this time of year, fire officials stated. In addition, "no one has seen a springtime like this with the winds," Juskie said.

{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-24-me-fire24-story.html | title=Lightning takes Northern California fires from bad to worse | first = Eric |last=Bailey | newspaper= Los Angeles Times | date=June 24, 2008 | access-date=2008-07-22}}

Smoke and air quality

Air quality in northern and central California deteriorated as a result of smoke from the wildfires, especially in the Central Valley from Bakersfield in the southern San Joaquin Valley section to Redding in the northern Sacramento Valley section.{{cite news|title= Wildfires' smoke, ash chokes Northern Californians| url=http://4minniecute.blogspot.com/2008/06/wildfires-smoke-ash-chokes-northern.html|access-date=2008-07-07|date=2008-06-28|agency=Associated Press|publisher=CNN}}{{cite news|title=Myriad wildfires pollute air, pose health risks and keep on spreading|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/27/BACG11FM9V.DTL&hw=wildfire&sn=041&sc=413|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=2008-06-27|access-date=2008-07-07|first=Demian|last=Bulwa}}

=Northern California=

From June 21 to June 27, much of Northern California was covered in a thick blanket of smoke, which reduced visibility and turned the sky yellow and the Moon red.{{cite news|title=Editorial: An early fire season|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/25/EDDE11EAC8.DTL&hw=wildfire&sn=047&sc=250|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=2008-06-25|access-date=2008-07-07}}{{cite news |title=Smoky haze raises health risk in Valley |url=http://www.sacbee.com/fires/story/1037922.html |newspaper=Sacramento Bee |first=Maddalena |last=Jackson |date=2008-06-25 |access-date=2008-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705110013/http://www.sacbee.com/fires/story/1037922.html |archive-date=July 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

Some areas endured record levels of air pollution, along with hazardous concentrations of particulate matter. These smoky and hazy conditions prompted health officials to issue air quality advisories and warnings, as particulate matter reached unhealthy levels in the North Bay on June 25.{{cite news|title=Smoke from Lake County fire a danger to some|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/26/BA9611F182.DTL&hw=wildfire&sn=044&sc=215|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=2008-06-26|access-date=2008-07-07|first=Steve|last=Rubenstein}} In the San Francisco Bay Area, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District urged the elderly and people with respiratory problems to stay indoors. In spite of the warnings, health officials noted a jump in the number of people with eye and throat irritation. The bad air quality also forced the cancellation of the {{convert|100|mi|km|0|adj=on}} Western States Endurance Run, the first in the race's 31-year history. Air quality began to improve on June 28, followed by decreased smoke and improved visibility a day later.{{cite news |title=Smoke clears slightly, but air is still bad |url=http://www.sacbee.com/fires/story/1048773.html |newspaper=Sacramento Bee |date=2008-06-30 |access-date=2008-07-07 |first=Todd |last=Milbourn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705110028/http://www.sacbee.com/fires/story/1048773.html |archive-date=July 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} By June 30, residents in the Sacramento Valley saw blue skies and good air quality, as a result of onshore winds and the Delta breezes.{{cite news |title=Delta breeze clears the air in Sacramento Valley |url=http://www.sacbee.com/fires/story/1051521.html |newspaper=Sacramento Bee |date=2008-07-01 |access-date=2008-07-07 |first=Maddalena |last=Jackson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708222823/http://www.sacbee.com/fires/story/1051521.html |archive-date=July 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

However, air quality in Oregon degraded as plumes of smoke drifted northward instead of concentrating in the Central Valley.{{cite news|title=Smoke from California wildfires drifts into Oregon|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/nwheadlines/2008/07/smoke_from_california_wildfire.html|newspaper=The Oregonian|first=Noelle|last=Crombie|access-date=2008-07-07|date=2008-07-04}}

=Spare the Air=

Hazy conditions returned on July 7, along with high temperatures over {{convert|100|F|C|abbr=on}} in the Central Valley. The heat and smoke combined forced public health officials and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to issue "Spare the Air" advisories and an emergency plan for heat waves, respectively.{{cite news |title=Governor activates emergency plan in response to heat wave |url=http://www.sacbee.com/fires/story/1064999.html |newspaper=Sacramento Bee |date=2008-07-07 |access-date=2008-07-07 |first=Niesha |last=Lofing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801110048/http://www.sacbee.com/fires/story/1064999.html |archive-date=August 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} Air quality districts issued another Spare the Air day for July 8, July 9, and July 10, as calm wind conditions in Northern California failed to blow away the smoke from the wildfires.{{cite news|title=Heat wave eases thanks to onshore breeze|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/10/BAP411M9DN.DTL|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=2008-07-10|date=2008-07-10|first=Jill|last=Tucker}} Smoky conditions continued into late August, when most of the wildfires were extinguished. The smoke from the fires finally began to disperse on September 10, after the last of the wildfires was fully contained.

Image:7 11 08 Carson City NV smoke from California Wildfires A.jpg (11 July 2008).]]

=Health Impact=

A paper in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology studied a group of adolescent rhesus macaque monkeys that were exposed during infancy to smoke from northern California wildfires in 2008. They found that monkeys exposed to wildfire smoke as infants had "significantly reduced inspiratory capacity, residual volume, vital capacity, and functional residual capacity per unit of body weight." There was also a trend of reduced total lung capacity in animals exposed to wildfire smoke as infants. Adolescent monkeys exposed to wildfire smoke as infants were also found to have a lessened PBMCs responses to TLR Ligands. TLR5 has been linked with the asthma phenotype experimentally and in human subjects. An important finding in the study was that monkeys over 200 miles away from the combustion were still found to have significant immune and respiratory changes.{{Cite journal|last1=Black|first1=Carolyn|last2=Gerriets|first2=Joan E.|last3=Fontaine|first3=Justin H.|last4=Harper|first4=Richart W.|last5=Kenyon|first5=Nicholas J.|last6=Tablin|first6=Fern|last7=Schelegie|first7=Edward S.|last8=Miller|first8=Lisa A|date=2017-02-13|title=Early Life Wildfire Smoke Exposure Is Associated with Immune Dysregulation and Lung Function Decrements in Adolescence|journal=American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology|language=en|volume=56|issue=5|pages=657–666|doi=10.1165/rcmb.2016-0380OC|pmid=28208028|pmc=5449494}}

The findings were consistent with many other human group studies and suggest that children who underwent the same experience as the monkeys in the study have a high chance of exhibiting similar health problems but, that because normal development of rhesus monkeys is accelerated compared to human children the relative impact of this amount of wildfire smoke exposure might differ.

November Fires

file:MODIS Fires in southern California November 2008.jpg Earth observation satellite.]]

The month of November saw a large number of fires, around 2,151, which began burning across Southern California on November 13, with 4 of them becoming major wildfires. At least 400 houses and 500 mobile homes were destroyed. According to USA Today, these wildfires combined with those from October 2007 and the Summer of 2008 were the worst group of wildfires that California had experienced in two decades.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/weather/drought/2009-04-22-drought-california_N.htm|title=Renewed drought conditions fan California's wildfire fears|last=Dorell|first=Oren|date=2009-04-22|work=USA Today|access-date=2009-05-03}}

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told residents, "If you wait until the fire gets there you have waited too long, this fire can be on you in a moment's notice."{{cite news |first=steve |last=Gorman |title=Los Angeles fears blackouts as wildfire burns |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1547041620081115 |work=Reuters |date=15 November 2008 |access-date=18 November 2008 }} California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties. Governor Schwarzenegger described the conditions contributing to the fires as a "perfect storm," including strong Santa Ana and sundowner winds, with gusts reaching {{convert|80|mph|km/h|0}}, as well as high temperatures, low humidity, and dry conditions.Comments of Govovernor Schwarzenegger in televised press conference at 9:50 PDT on November 16, 2008.

The most significant fires were the following:

  • Montecito Tea Fire - a wildfire that started on November 13, 2008, in the wealthy community of Montecito, in Santa Barbara County, California, resulting in the destruction of 210 homes.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/index_incidents_Tea.php |title=State of California |access-date=2015-09-02 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924013253/http://www.fire.ca.gov/index_incidents_Tea.php |url-status=dead }} Many celebrities have homes in the area of the Tea Fire, including Oprah Winfrey, Rob Lowe, and Steven Spielberg. The home of actor Christopher Lloyd was destroyed in the fire.{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laland/2008/11/christopher-llo.html |title=Christopher Lloyd among the unlucky |last=Brenoff |first=Ann |newspaper=LA Times |access-date=2008-11-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615220625/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laland/2008/11/christopher-llo.html |archive-date=June 15, 2009 }}{{cite web|title=CA MTO Tea Fire Update 3000+ Acres|date=14 November 2008|publisher=California Fire News|url=http://calfire.blogspot.com/2008/11/ca-mto-tea-fire-update-2500-acres-0.html}}
  • Sayre Fire - a wildfire that started on November 13, 2008, in the Sylmar section of Los Angeles, California, resulting in the destruction of at least 630 structures, including 500 mobile homes, nine single-family homes, and eleven commercial buildings.[http://lafd.blogspot.com/2008/11/lafd-sayre-fire.html Blogspot.com] The loss of more than 500 residences is the "worst loss of homes due to fire" ever in the City of Los Angeles, California, exceeding the loss of 484 residences in the 1961 Bel Air fire.{{cite news|author=Tami Abdollah and Howard Blume|title=Schwarzenegger calls for review after Sylmar tragedy as blazes rage on|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=2008-11-16|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/valley/la-me-firemain17-2008nov17,0,2305426.story}}
  • Freeway Complex Fire[http://www.ocfa.org/pages/ocfa.asp?filename=freewayic.asp Orange County Fire Authority] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209070329/http://www.ocfa.org/pages/ocfa.asp?filename=freewayic.asp |date=2008-12-09 }} - The combination of 2 wildfires, one of which was known as the Corona Fire by the news media, or Triangle Complex Fire, that started at approximately 9:00 a.m. PDT on November 15, 2008, and spread across the communities of Corona, Chino Hills, Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills and Brea in Orange and Riverside County, California, and also spread to Diamond Bar in Los Angeles County.[http://www.fire.ca.gov/index_incidents_Freeway.php State of California] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207060240/http://www.fire.ca.gov/index_incidents_Freeway.php |date=2008-12-07 }} Later on November 15, the Landfill Fire ignited at 10:45 AM, and early on May 16, both wildfires merged into the Freeway Complex Fire. The Freeway Complex Fire burned about {{convert|30305|acre|ha}}, injured 14 firefighters, and destroyed about 200 structures,{{cite web

| last =Pirani

| first =Niyaz

| author2 =Townsend, Adam

| author3 =Jolly, Vik

| title =Heat may hamper firefighters this afternoon

| work =The Orange County Register

| date =November 17, 2008

| url =http://www.ocregister.com/articles/orange-county-fire-2230899-triangle-complex

| access-date =September 2, 2015

| archive-date =February 12, 2009

| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090212214721/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/orange-county-fire-2230899-triangle-complex

| url-status =dead

}} and forced the evacuations of about 7,000 homes.[http://bnews.freedomblogging.com/category/2008-orange-county-fires/by-the-numbers/ Freedom Blogging: Freedom Politics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211224536/http://bnews.freedomblogging.com/category/2008-orange-county-fires/by-the-numbers/ |date=2009-02-11 }}[http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/ FOX Los Angeles. FOX 11]{{cite news|url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Brush-Fire-Shuts-Down-Freeway-in-Corona.html|title=Freeway Complex Fire Burns 7,300 Acres; Tens of Thousands Evacuated|date=2008-11-16|publisher=NBC Los Angeles|access-date=2008-11-28}}

{{Clear}}

Fatalities

During the season, the National Interagency Fire Center reported 13 firefighter fatalities while battling wildfires. Nine were killed in a helicopter crash, while others died of a heart attack, a falling tree, and an entrapment. In all, 32 people were killed by the wildfires.

See also

{{Commons category}}

References

{{reflist|33em}}

{{California wildfires}}

{{California wildfires by size}}

{{California wildfires by deaths}}

California, 2008

Category:Wildfires in California by year