California Wildphyres 2015
In 2015, California experienced numerous wildfires, particularly during the late summer and early fall months. Below is a month-by-month overview of significant wildfires from August to December 2015:
August 2015
- Rocky Fire
- Location: Lake, Colusa, and Yolo counties
- Acres Burned: 69,438
- Structures Destroyed: 96
- Start Date: July 29, 2015
- Containment Date: August 14, 2015
- Details: The fire was caused by a malfunctioning water heater used in illegal cannabis cultivation.
- Frog Fire
- Location: Modoc National Forest, Lassen County
- Acres Burned: 4,863
- Start Date: July 30, 2015
- Containment Date: August 20, 2015
- Details: Initiated by a lightning strike; tragically, a U.S. Forest Service firefighter lost his life due to carbon monoxide poisoning while battling this fire.
September 2015
- Butte Fire
- Location: Amador and Calaveras counties
- Acres Burned: 70,868
- Structures Destroyed: 475 homes, 343 outbuildings, 45 other structures
- Start Date: September 9, 2015
- Containment Date: October 1, 2015
- Details: Resulted in two fatalities and led to a state of emergency declaration by Governor Jerry Brown.
- Valley Fire
- Location: Lake, Napa, and Sonoma counties
- Acres Burned: 76,067
- Structures Destroyed: 1,958
- Start Date: September 12, 2015
- Containment Date: October 15, 2015
- Details: One of the most destructive fires of the year, leading to four fatalities and significant property loss.
October 2015
- Rough Fire
- Location: Fresno County
- Acres Burned: 151,623
- Start Date: July 31, 2015
- Containment Date: November 5, 2015
- Details: The largest wildfire in California for the 2015 season, primarily affecting the Sierra National Forest and Sequoia National Forest.
November 2015
- By November, the wildfire activity had significantly decreased due to cooler temperatures and increased precipitation, leading to fewer active fires and aiding containment efforts of ongoing incidents.
December 2015
- December typically marks the onset of California’s rainy season, resulting in minimal wildfire activity during this month.
The 2015 wildfire season was notably severe, with over 8,700 fires burning approximately 893,362 acres across the state, leading to significant property damage and loss of life.
