Lightning-Sparked California Fires Force Evacuations and Destroy Buildings

Several wildfires were burning in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada area, forcing evacuations and destroying buildings in a historic mining town.

The fires were started by numerous lightning strikes that hit California this week.

Dubbed the TCU September Lightning Complex, the fires cover more than 13,700 acres. Containment on individual fires varies, but as a whole, they are 15% contained, according to CalFire.

The blazes cover three counties: Calaveras, Stanislaus and Tuolune. Evacuation orders and evacuation warnings are in effect in several areas.

Related: Wildfire Burns Through Historic California Gold Mining Town, Destroying Multiple Homes

More than 1,200 personnel, 43 water tenders and 13 helicopters are assigned to the fires.

“Multiple fires remained active today with short range spotting, rollout and trees falling contributing to fire spread. Increased day time temperatures and lack of cloud cover are contributing to decreased moisture in the vegetation throughout the complex area,” an update issued on Thursday from CalFire states. “Northwest winds are expected to continue throughout the area.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week that California secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help ensure the availability of resources to suppress the 2-7 fire within the TCU September Lightning Complex Fire.

The FMAG, which is provided through the FEMA on a cost-share basis, goes to assist local, state, and tribal agencies responding to the fire to apply for 75% reimbursement of their eligible fire suppression costs.

Newsom also announced the pre-deployment of firefighting resources to five counties in Northern California to support firefighting efforts, including new fires caused by lightning.

Topics California Wildfire