First Hand Accounts of 2018 Wildfires

Wildfire’s in the west have created a devastating summer for many, but  hard working and capable firefighters have helped to save lives!

FireChief.com has an article that delves into some first hand accounts of this year’s wildfires.

The article provides these statistics.

At over 350,000 acres total, the Mendocino Complex fire has become the largest wildfire in California state history. This fire encompasses two distinct operations areas, the Ranch fire and the River fire.

At almost 200,000 acres, the Carr fire and has been the most destructive California fire to date, and is approximately 62 percent contained. The Carr fire began on July 26 at approximately 7:30 pm, prompting extended mandatory evacuations in several counties. The towns of French Gulch, Keswick, Old Shasta, Happy Valley, Igo, Ono and the city of Redding have been devastated as the fire left the wildland-urban interface and came downtown. Just in those locations, over 1,500 structures have been lost (over 1,000 of those homes). This fire is the area where four of our fire service workers have lost their lives, along with four civilians.

The Ferguson fire – at over 95,000 acres – is nearly 86 percent contained. Fortunately, this fire in northern California has been in largely undeveloped and unoccupied territory, stretching into Yosemite National Park. The park has been closed for two weeks, however, officials hope to have it open soon.

The Taylor Creek fire (over 43,000 acres) and the Klondike fire (over 38,000 acres) in Oregon continue to burn with minimal containment. Firefighters have focused on saving thousands of homes in these locations.

One of the smaller fires, the Holy fire, has consumed over 21,000 acres and has destroyed a dozen structures, with only 10 percent containment. Some of the evacuation orders originally ordered for this fire have been lifted.

Read first hand accounts from this summer’s wildfires here.

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