NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Hot temperatures and dry conditions continue to lead to an increase in wildland fires around the state, according to Cal Fire.
In the Monday Fire Situation Report, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said there has been a significant increase in fire activity in the state, with the agency responding to more than 200 new incidents last week.
On Monday more than 13,000 firefighters were battling 19 active wildland fires around California, Berlant said.
“Our goal is to contain 95-percent of all of our wildfires to 10 acres or less,” he said, noting Cal Fire is way over that percentage.
Berlant also reviewed the northern lightning complexes – including the Humboldt lightning complex, the South, the Mad River, the Route and others – that he said are responsible for the smoke across the state's northern and central portions,which is causing unhealthy air quality conditions for residents in those areas.
The Lake County Air Quality Management District also reported on Monday that air quality in the county is forecast to be in the unhealthy range through Tuesday due to the amount of smoke in the air basin from the northern fires.
Berlant also reported on the Jerusalem fire, burning since Aug. 9 in Lake County. By mid-day Monday, that fire was reported to be 25,118 acres and 90-percent contained.
He said crews remain at work on the Jerusalem fire, and are mopping up, just as they are on the Rocky fire area to the north. The Rocky fire was fully contained on Friday at 69,438 acres.
Berlant said the thank you signs and cards the community has created for firefighters really help with morale after weeks of hard work on the fire lines.
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Fire Situation Report gives statewide overview of incidents; Jerusalem fire nearing full containment
- Elizabeth Larson
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