California wildfires, by the numbers
Fires are raging across California, along with Oregon and Washington, driven in part by the climate crisis
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
There are still four months left of fire season but the incoming stats are already devastating. Fires are raging across California, Oregon and Washington, driven in part by the climate crisis.
According to official figures for California:
- 3.4million acres have burned so far in 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday. Last year, 259,823 acres burned, Cal Fire reported.
'I looked at Facebook and my town was on fire': Oregonians tell of dramatic escape from wildfire that devastated their community
California wildfire victims were given 'erroneous' information fire was contained before it killed them
Wildfire smoke reaches the East Coast: Here’s how to protect yourself from the effects
- 25 people are confirmed to have died since fire activity elevated on 15 August, according to the state fire department
- California currently has 25 major fire complexes burning around the state
- There have been nearly 7,900 fire incidents since the beginning of 2020
- Insured losses are almost $5 billion so far in 2020, according to Moody’s Investors Service. That makes this year the third-highest ever in the state’s wildfire losses after 2018 and 2017
- 17,000 fire fighters are tackling the blazes on the frontlines
- More than 38,000 people have been evacuated around the state
- Some 5,792 structures have been damaged or destroyed
- Creek Fire in Fresno County has “uniquely challenging conditions”, Mr Newsom said. The area has 163m dead trees, acting as fuel, due to historic drought
- 10 of the 20 most destructive California wildfires were in the last 5 years
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments