2020 Lassen County, California wildfires
The Hog Fire near Susanville
Statistics
Total fires7
Total area203,296
Buildings destroyed100
Non-fatal injuries3

The 2020 Lassen County wildfire season included seven large wildfires that burned entirely or in part in Lassen County. A total of 203,296 acres (82,271 ha) (or 203,296 acres (318 sq mi)) of land was burned in Lassen County, making it one of the larger clusters of fires in the 2020 California wildfire season.[1]

The fires

Hog Fire

The Hog Fire was a wildfire that broke out on July 18, 2020, from an unknown cause near Susanville, the county seat of Lassen County, California. Within the first few days, the fire quickly spread to over 8,000 acres.[2] Hog grew to a mere 9,564 acres, before it was fully extinguished on August 17, 2020.

Gold Fire

Main article: Gold Fire (2020)

The Gold Fire was a wildfire that burned south of Adin along Highway 139. Igniting on Monday, July 20, on the east side of Highway 139 in rural landscape, the fire expanded to 21,870 acres (8,850 ha) and destroyed thirteen structures while also damaging an additional five.[3]

North Fire

Not to be confused with North Complex fire or North Fire (2015).

The North Fire burned in Washoe and Lassen counties. The fire triggered evacuations in Washoe County, and shut off roads in California including US 395.[4]

Loyalton Fire

Main article: Loyalton Fire

The Loyalton Fire was a wildfire burning in Lassen, Plumas, and Sierra counties, caused by lightning strikes in August 2020. During the fire, the National Weather Service issued the first ever fire whirl warning in US history.[5] [6]

Sheep Fire

Ignited by lightning on August 17, the Sheep Fire burned in Lassen and Plumas counties. Originally part of the North Complex, it burned 29,570 acres (11,967 ha), mostly in the Plumas and Lassen National Forests, before being fully contained on September 9, 2020.[7]

W-5 Cold Springs fire

The W-5 Cold Springs was a lightning-sparked fire burning in Lassen, Modoc and Washoe counties. The fire grew up to 84,817 acres (34,324 ha) before it was contained on September 14, making it the largest 2020 Lassen County fire.[8]

Laura 2 Fire

The November 17th Laura 2 Fire was the most destructive fire in the 2020 Lassen County fire season, despite its relatively small size. It burned 2,800 acres (1,133 ha) and destroyed 48 structures before its containment on November 24.[9]

Table and Map

Name County (other than Lassen) Acres Start date Containment date Notes Ref
Hog n/a 9,564 July 18 August 8 2 structures destroyed [10]
Gold n/a 22,634 July 20 August 8 13 structures destroyed; 5 structures damaged; 2 firefighters injured in burnover [11]
North Washoe, NV 6,882 August 2 August 10 6,882 acres in total, of which approximately 4,105 acres burned in Washoe County, Nevada [12]
Loyalton Plumas, Sierra 47,029 August 15 September 14 Lightning-sparked, Caused National Weather Service to issue first ever Fire Tornado Warning; 5 homes, 6 outbuildings destroyed [13][14]
Sheep Plumas 29,570 August 17 September 9 Lightning-sparked, 26 structures destroyed, 1 injury [15][16]
W-5 Cold Springs Modoc, Washoe, NV 84,817 August 18 September 14 Lightning-sparked. Fire spread eastward into Washoe County, Nevada. [17]
Laura 2 n/a 2,800 November 17 November 24 Unknown cause; 48 structures destroyed; 4 structures damaged [18][19]
Map
[Interactive fullscreen map + nearby articles]
Location of Lassen County wildfires

References

  1. ^ "What we know Sunday about North State fires: Hog, Gold, July, Badger, Platina and new Miners". July 25, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  2. ^ "'Firenado' Spotted As Hog Fire Scorches 8,000 Acres In Northern California". sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com. July 21, 2020.
  3. ^ @CALFIRELMU (July 27, 2020). "#GoldFire off of Highway 139 and County Rd. A-2, south of Adin is 21,870 acres and 50% contained" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "UPDATE: North Fire at Hallelujah Junction area now at 6,300 acres, evacuations lifted". Reno Gazette Journal. August 2, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  5. ^ "Tornado Warning". National Weather Service. August 15, 2020. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "Loyalton Fire Incident Overview". InciWeb. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  7. ^ "Sheep Fire Incident Overview". InciWeb. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  8. ^ "W-5 Cold Springs Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". InciWeb. August 18, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  9. ^ "Laura 2 Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System". InciWeb. November 17, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  10. ^ "Hog Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. July 5, 2020.
  11. ^ "Gold Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. July 21, 2020.
  12. ^ "North Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 3, 2020.
  13. ^ "Loyalton Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. September 14, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  14. ^ @NWStornado (August 15, 2020). "Loyalton Fire Tornado Warning" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Sheep Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. September 4, 2020.
  16. ^ "Sheep Fire Information". fire.ca.gov. August 22, 2020.
  17. ^ "W-5 Cold Spring Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. August 19, 2020.
  18. ^ "Laura 2 Fire Information". InciWeb. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  19. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Incident Management Situation Report Friday, November 27, 2020 – 0800 MDT, National Preparedness Level 1" (PDF). nifc.gov. November 27, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
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