1 Dead In California Fire, As Lightning-Strike Fires Push Resources To Limit

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Embers burn along a hillside as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through unincorporated Napa County, Calif., on Tuesday. Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of wildfires sparked by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues.

Noah Berger/AP

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Noah Berger/AP

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A mobile home and car burn at Spanish Flat Mobile Villa as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through unincorporated Napa County, Calif., on Tuesday.

Noah Berger/AP

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Noah Berger/AP

A mobile home and car burn at Spanish Flat Mobile Villa as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through unincorporated Napa County, Calif., on Tuesday.

Noah Berger/AP

«A wall of flames roared through the Spanish Flat Mobile Villa … reducing homes to ashes and vehicles to piles of melted metal, reported KPIX, the CBS affiliate in the Bay Area.

Not far from the wine region, the CSU Lightning Complex fires have consumed more than 85,000 acres across five counties. The burning, which is believed to have been ignited by dry lightning, began on Tuesday morning and has now spread through Santa Clara County, Alameda County, Contra Costa County, San Joaquin County, and Stanislaus County.

It is about 5% contained.

The CZU August Lightning Complex fire is yet another raging blaze. This one is along the coast in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. «High night-time temperatures and limited resources have expanded the fire, which has now reached 10,000 acres, Cal Fire said.

Meanwhile, Southern California is contending with three massive fires that have scorched roughly 73,200 acres and threaten the existence of hundreds of communities.

The Lake Fire has spread across 26,000 acres, the Dome Fire has charred more than 20,000 acres within the Mojave National Preserve, and the Ranch 2 fire has swallowed 4,300 acres. Not one is more than 40% contained.

1:13am 98 degrees #DomeFire #MNP pic.twitter.com/eROFgxSEUP

— Daniel Magallanes (@DanielM00508429) August 17, 2020

Although Newsom conceded that firefighting personnel «are stretched in ways that we haven’t seen in many years, on Wednesday he rejected criticism that the state was unprepared for the onslaught of wildfires.

He noted extensive collaboration with FEMA and other states, including Arizona and Texas, that have been put in place over the years to address such calamities.

«We prepared for it, Newsom said.

An additional Cal Fire budget boost of $85.6 million «to bring on permanent firefighting forces was approved by the state legislature earlier this year, despite the economic belt tightening caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Newsom said.

The governor reported 830 additional seasonal fighters have been hired in the last few weeks to combat the active wildfires. And more help is expected to arrive from Texas

The fires are also smothering huge swaths of the state with harmful smoke and ash forcing many who can to remain indoors. But that is also putting stress on the state’s energy infrastructure which is under tremendous strain as the heat wave has triggered rolling blackouts.

And there is little reprieve expected for at least a few days. High temperatures are expected to continue through the end of the week, the National Weather Service said.

Another, unexpected complication that has arisen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic is where to send people who have been evacuated from their homes. Statewide health and safety guidelines require that evacuees not be crammed together in enclosed spaces are they usually when people wait out emergencies.