Lava Fire (2021)
{{Short description|2021 wildfire in Northern California}}
{{distinguish|Lava Fire (2012)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox wildfire
| title = Lava Fire
| image =LavaFireJune302021.jpg
| caption =The Lava Fire producing a pyrocumulus cloud on June 30
| cost =
| injuries = 6
| fatalities =
| reference =
| date = {{Unbulleted list|{{Start date|2021|06|25}} – |{{End date|2021|09|03}}}}
| location = Weed, California
| coordinates ={{coord|41.459|-122.329|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map =USA California
| pushpin_map_caption =Location in Northern California
| area = {{#invoke:string|replace|{{convert|26409|acre|sqmi km2 ha|0|abbr=off|disp=br}}|; |}}
| cause = Lightning
| landuse =
| buildings = Destroyed 23
Damaged 1
}}
The Lava Fire was a wildfire that burned {{Convert|26409|acre|ha|0|abbr=on}} along the slopes of Mount Shasta near Weed, California during the 2021 California wildfire season. The fire started on June 25, 2021 and was fully contained on September 3, 2021.{{cite web |title=Lava Fire |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2021/6/24/lava-fire/ |website=CAL Fire |access-date=September 13, 2021 |archive-date=September 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913010126/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2021/6/24/lava-fire/ |url-status=live }} The fire destroyed 23 buildings, including 14 houses, as well as damaged an additional building.{{Cite web|title=Lava Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7581/|access-date=2021-07-05|website=InciWeb|archive-date=2021-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702221322/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7581/|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Growth of Lava Fire slows to a crawl |url=https://kobi5.com/news/growth-of-lava-fire-slows-to-a-crawl-153821/ |access-date=July 9, 2021 |publisher=KOBI (TV) |date=July 9, 2021 |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710050620/https://kobi5.com/news/growth-of-lava-fire-slows-to-a-crawl-153821/ |url-status=live }}
Progression
The Lava Fire was first reported on June 25, 2021 at around 7:45 am PST. The fire grew relatively slowly over the following few days, being reported at {{Convert|1,446|acre|ha|0|abbr=on}} on June 28.{{cite web |title=June 28 Morning Update: Lava Fire Wildfire |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7581/60391/ |website=InciWeb |access-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710072003/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7581/60391/ |url-status=live }} However, the fire grew much more rapidly over the next several days, reaching over {{Convert|13,000|acre|ha|0|abbr=on}} the next day and over {{Convert|23,800|acre|ha|0|abbr=on}} by July 2.{{cite news |title=Lava Fire grows to over 13,000 acres |url=https://kobi5.com/news/lava-fire-grows-to-over-13000-acres-153132/ |access-date=July 10, 2021 |publisher=KOBI (TV) |date=June 29, 2021 |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710072004/https://kobi5.com/news/lava-fire-grows-to-over-13000-acres-153132/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Parfitt |first1=Jamie |title=Lava Fire Grows to More Than 23,800 Acres; Some Evacuations Lifted |url=https://www.kdrv.com/content/news/Lava-Fire-grows-to-more-than-23800-acres-some-evacuations-lifted-574755901.html |access-date=July 10, 2021 |publisher=KDRV |date=July 2, 2021 |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710072306/https://www.kdrv.com/content/news/Lava-Fire-grows-to-more-than-23800-acres-some-evacuations-lifted-574755901.html |url-status=live }} The growth was fueled by strong winds and dry vegetation amid an ongoing drought and a heat wave. Growth slowed after July 2, with the fire reaching {{Convert|25,003|acre|ha|0|abbr=on}} by July 8.
Sometime before June 30, 2021, the Lava Fire damaged a Union Pacific railroad trestle near Mount Shasta, California, significantly disrupting rail traffic on the west coast, including Amtrak's Coast Starlight service.{{Cite web|title=UP service disrupted by fire, weather|url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/up-service-disrupted-by-fire-weather/|access-date=2021-07-03|website=Trains|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630183622/https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/up-service-disrupted-by-fire-weather/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Amtrak Advisory {{!}} Service Alert - Coast Starlight Trains Canceled Between Seattle and Sacramento until mid-July|url=https://www.amtrak.com/coast-starlight-trains-canceled-between-seattle-sacramento-through-mid-july|access-date=2021-07-03|website=www.amtrak.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707141300/https://www.amtrak.com/coast-starlight-trains-canceled-between-seattle-sacramento-through-mid-july|url-status=live}}
= Cause =
= Containment =
Firefighters focused on securing the southern and western edges of the fire to protect populated areas like Weed, Mt. Shasta, Mount Shasta Vista, and Big Spring.{{cite web |title=Lava Fire Morning Update July 3, 2021 |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7581/60526/ |website=InciWeb |access-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710225825/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7581/60526/ |url-status=live }} Their containment efforts were hampered by extreme heat, difficult terrain, poor road access to the fire, and poor access to water resources. The fire reached 77% percent containment by July 15, 2021.
Effects
= Closures and evacuations =
At least a few thousand people living near the foot of Mount Shasta were forced to flee their homes, including people in Lake Shastina, Juniper Valley, and the Mount Shasta Vista subdivision.{{cite web |title=Evacuation Information Lava Fire Wildfire |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7581/60430/ |website=InciWeb |access-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-date=July 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711035411/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7581/60430/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Mount Shasta Lava Fire has little growth overnight |url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/wildfire/mount-shasta-lava-fire/103-241498e3-5bca-4f0c-b5ab-05586276576a |access-date=July 10, 2021 |publisher=ABC 10 |date=July 4, 2021 |archive-date=July 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711035412/https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/wildfire/mount-shasta-lava-fire/103-241498e3-5bca-4f0c-b5ab-05586276576a |url-status=live }}
Evacuation efforts were complicated by ongoing tensions between Siskiyou County authorities and the local Hmong communities that operate cannabis farms in the area. One man was shot and killed by police after allegedly brandishing a firearm at authorities at an evacuation checkpoint.{{Cite web |title=Officers won't be charged for fatally shooting man at California fire checkpoint |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/officers-wont-charged-fatally-shooting-man-california-fire-checkpoint-rcna33642 |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=NBC News |date=15 June 2022 |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714144733/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/officers-wont-charged-fatally-shooting-man-california-fire-checkpoint-rcna33642 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|last=Cortez|first=Alison|date=June 30, 2021|title=Hostile pot farmers forced retreat from Lava Fire in Northern California, sheriff says|work=The Sacramento Bee|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article252471823.html|access-date=July 11, 2021|archive-date=June 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630164315/https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article252471823.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=2021-06-29|title=Lava Fire: Officers Kill Gunman Near Pot Farms In Evacuation Area; 13,000 Acres Burned|url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/06/29/lava-fire-man-dies-in-gunfight-near-marijuana-farms-evacuation-zone/|work=CBS SF|access-date=2021-06-30|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181720/https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/06/29/lava-fire-man-dies-in-gunfight-near-marijuana-farms-evacuation-zone/|url-status=live}} Additionally, 14 people were arrested in the Mount Shasta Vista subdivision after refusing to leave amid the evacuation order.{{cite news |last1=Wigglesworth |first1=Alex |title=Salt fire destroys more than two dozen homes; residents are arrested near Lava fire evacuation area |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-03/salt-fire-destroys-homes-as-residents-are-arrested-in-lava-fire-evacuation-area |access-date=July 10, 2021 |agency=Associated Press |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 3, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709234658/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-03/salt-fire-destroys-homes-as-residents-are-arrested-in-lava-fire-evacuation-area |url-status=live }}
The Lava Fire forced the closure of few major transportation arteries through Siskiyou County. Highway 97 was closed between the city of Weed and the Oregon state line from June 28, 2021 until July 6, 2021.{{cite news |title=Fast-spreading wildfire near Weed shuts Highway 97 at Oregon-California border |url=https://ktvz.com/news/fire-alert/2021/06/28/fast-spreading-wildfire-near-weed-shuts-highway-97-at-oregon-california-border/ |access-date=July 10, 2021 |publisher=KTVZ |date=June 28, 2021 |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710231913/https://ktvz.com/news/fire-alert/2021/06/28/fast-spreading-wildfire-near-weed-shuts-highway-97-at-oregon-california-border/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=DePaola |first1=Amy-Xiaoshi |title=Lava Fire in Siskiyou County 71% contained; Highway 97 reopens |url=https://fox40.com/news/wildfire-watch/lava-fire-in-siskiyou-county-71-contained-highway-97-reopens/ |agency=Associated Press |publisher=KTXL |date=July 6, 2021 |access-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710231913/https://fox40.com/news/wildfire-watch/lava-fire-in-siskiyou-county-71-contained-highway-97-reopens/ |url-status=live }} The fire caused damage to Union Pacific-owned trackage and the Dry Canyon Bridge, which forced the company to shut down that segment of the railroad on June 28 and reroute freight trains over the Donner Pass.{{cite news |last1=Gailey |first1=Brian |title=Union Pacific tracks heavily damaged in Lava Fire |url=https://www.klamathfallsnews.org/news/union-pacific-tracks-heavily-damaged-in-lava-fire |access-date=July 10, 2021 |publisher=Klamath Falls News |date=July 8, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709034614/https://www.klamathfallsnews.org/news/union-pacific-tracks-heavily-damaged-in-lava-fire |url-status=live }} The Union Pacific railroad closure forced Amtrak to effectively suspend passenger service between Sacramento and Eugene, Oregon, with the Coast Starlight service being suspended north of Sacramento and only Amtrak Cascades trains running between Seattle and Eugene.{{cite news |title=Amtrak Coast Starlight service suspended in parts of Oregon until mid-July due to fire damage |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2021/07/mount-shasta-fire-damage-forces-change-to-amtrak-coast-starlight-operations-until-mid-july.html |access-date=July 10, 2021 |publisher=The Oregonian |date=July 10, 2021 |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710223820/https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2021/07/mount-shasta-fire-damage-forces-change-to-amtrak-coast-starlight-operations-until-mid-july.html |url-status=live }} Passenger service on the Coast Starlight resumed between Eugene and Klamath Falls, Oregon on July 15, 2021 with a bus bridge to Sacramento.{{cite news |title=Track and Bridge Work Affects Coast Starlight |url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/track-bridge-work-affects-coast-starlight.html |access-date=July 17, 2021 |publisher=Amtrak |date=July 15, 2021 |archive-date=July 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717203545/https://www.amtrak.com/alert/track-bridge-work-affects-coast-starlight.html |url-status=live }} Full service on the Coast Starlight between Seattle and Los Angeles was restored on August 23, 2021 after the Dry Canyon Bridge was repaired.{{cite news |last1=Wynkoop |first1=Olivia |title=Amtrak to resume Coast Starlight line after repairing wildfire damage |url=https://www.kron4.com/news/california/amtrak-to-resume-coast-starlight-line-after-repairing-wildfire-damage/ |access-date=September 12, 2021 |publisher=KRON-TV |date=August 19, 2021 |archive-date=September 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913011103/https://www.kron4.com/news/california/amtrak-to-resume-coast-starlight-line-after-repairing-wildfire-damage/ |url-status=live }}
= Damage =
Gallery
Lava Fire - 2021 06 26-16.15.31.013-CDT.jpg|Lava Fire on June 26, 2021
Lava Fire - 2021 06 27-16.44.48.881-CDT.jpg|The fire on June 27, 2021
Lava Fire - 2021 06 28-11.38.56.183-CDT.jpg|Lava Fire with a Forest Service fire engine in the foreground on June 28, 2021
Lava Fire - 2021 07 05-13.38.45.077-CDT.jpg|The fire seen from Weed High School on July 5, 2021
Lava Fire - 2021 07 05-13.38.45.293-CDT.jpg|The fire from Weed High School on July 5, 2021
Lava Fire - 2021 07 05-13.38.46.561-CDT.jpg|A helicopter dropping water over the fire on July 5, 2021
Lava Fire - 2021 07 05-13.38.47.655-CDT.jpg|Lava Fire on July 5, 2021
Lava Fire - 2021 07 05-13.38.48.093-CDT.jpg|Burn zone and suppression work on the Lava Fire on July 5, 2021
Lava Fire - 2021 07 08-11.21.21.638-CDT.jpg|Hose lay on July 8, 2021
Lava Fire - 2021 07 08-22.04.03.302-CDT.jpg|The fire seen from the air on July 8, 2021
Lava Post-Fire BAER - 2021 07 28-21.25.51.985-CDT.jpg|Burned area on July 28, 2021
Lava Post-Fire BAER - 2021 07 28-21.16.40.268-CDT.jpg|Vegetation growing back in the burn zone on July 28, 2021
Lava Fire - 2021 07 30-00.43.38.130-CDT.jpg|Firefighter talks with community members at the Mount Shasta Farmer's Market on July 30, 2021
Lava Fire - 2021 07 30-01.04.12.104-CDT.jpg|Thank you sign on a vehicle on July 30, 2021
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{commons category}}
{{California wildfires}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lava Fire}}
Category:2021 California wildfires
Category:Bureau of Land Management