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Creek Fire (2020): Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 37°11′29″N 119°15′40″W / 37.19147°N 119.261175°W / 37.19147; -119.261175
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| caption =
| caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|37.19147|-119.261175|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|37.19147|-119.261175|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Fresno County]], [[California]], United States
| location = [[Fresno County]], [[California]], United States<br>[[Madera County]], [[California]], United States
| reference = <ref name="CalFire">{{cite web |title=Creek Fire |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/9/4/creek-fire/ |publisher=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection |accessdate=September 11, 2020 |date=September 11, 2020}}</ref><ref name="InciWeb"/>
| reference = <ref name="CalFire">{{cite web |title=Creek Fire |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/9/4/creek-fire/ |publisher=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection |accessdate=September 11, 2020 |date=September 11, 2020}}</ref><ref name="InciWeb"/>
| total_fires =
| total_fires =
| total_area = {{Convert|292,172|acre|ha|0}}
| total_area = {{Convert|302, 870|acre|ha|0}}
| cost = Unknown
| cost = Unknown
| cause = Under investigation
| cause = Under investigation
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The '''Creek Fire''' is a large active wildfire which started on September 4, 2020 near [[Shaver Lake]], [[California]]. It is currently about 36% contained.<ref name="CalFire"/> The fire has mostly burned in the [[Sierra National Forest]]. The fire necessitated the rescue of hundreds of people by National Guard helicopters.<ref name="Creek Fire1">{{cite web|title=Creek Fire|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/creek-fire-california-wildfire-smoke-plume-weather-pyrocumulonimbus-clouds|publisher= Foxnews|last=Fedschun|first=Travis|date=September 6, 2020|accessdate=September 7, 2020}}</ref> Half the homes in [[Big Creek, California|Big Creek]] were reported to be destroyed by the fire.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/marek-warszawski/article245539520.html|title=Creek Fire consumes half the homes in tiny town. 'Words cannot describe the devastation' |newspaper=Fresno Bee|last=Warszawski|first=Marek|date=September 6, 2020|accessdate=September 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/09/06/creek-fire-california-sierra-national-forest-what-we-know/5734601002/|title=More than 200 campers rescued by helicopter as Creek Fire prompts state of emergency in California: What we know|newspaper=USA Today|last=Romero|first=Sheyenne N. |date=September 6, 2020|accessdate=September 7, 2020}}</ref> Evacuations were issued in [[Auberry, California]].<ref>https://ktla.com/news/california/creek-fire-forces-evacuation-of-entire-town-in-central-california/</ref>
The '''Creek Fire''' is a large active wildfire which started on September 4, 2020 near [[Shaver Lake]], [[California]]. It is currently about 39% contained.<ref name="CalFire"/> The fire has mostly burned in the [[Sierra National Forest]]. The fire necessitated the rescue of hundreds of people by National Guard helicopters.<ref name="Creek Fire1">{{cite web|title=Creek Fire|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/creek-fire-california-wildfire-smoke-plume-weather-pyrocumulonimbus-clouds|publisher= Foxnews|last=Fedschun|first=Travis|date=September 6, 2020|accessdate=September 7, 2020}}</ref> Half the homes in [[Big Creek, California|Big Creek]] were reported to be destroyed by the fire.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/marek-warszawski/article245539520.html|title=Creek Fire consumes half the homes in tiny town. 'Words cannot describe the devastation' |newspaper=Fresno Bee|last=Warszawski|first=Marek|date=September 6, 2020|accessdate=September 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/09/06/creek-fire-california-sierra-national-forest-what-we-know/5734601002/|title=More than 200 campers rescued by helicopter as Creek Fire prompts state of emergency in California: What we know|newspaper=USA Today|last=Romero|first=Sheyenne N. |date=September 6, 2020|accessdate=September 7, 2020}}</ref> Evacuations were issued in [[Auberry, California]].<ref>https://ktla.com/news/california/creek-fire-forces-evacuation-of-entire-town-in-central-california/</ref>
[[File:2020 Creek Fire pyrocumulonimbus cloud formation.gif|thumb|Animation of the formation of a pyrocumulonimbus above the 2020 Creek Fire in California]]
[[File:2020 Creek Fire pyrocumulonimbus cloud formation.gif|thumb|Animation of the formation of a pyrocumulonimbus above the 2020 Creek Fire in California]]


Revision as of 14:26, 28 September 2020

Not to be confused with Witch Creek Fire, Creek Fire (2006), or Creek Fire (2017).
Creek Fire
Date(s)September 4, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-09-04)
LocationFresno County, California, United States
Madera County, California, United States
Coordinates37°11′29″N 119°15′40″W / 37.19147°N 119.261175°W / 37.19147; -119.261175
Statistics[1][2]
Total area[convert: invalid number]
Impacts
Non-fatal injuries12 campers[3]
Structures destroyed855
DamageUnknown
Ignition
CauseUnder investigation
Map
Creek Fire (2020) is located in Northern California
Creek Fire (2020)
Location of Creek Fire in Northern California

The Creek Fire is a large active wildfire which started on September 4, 2020 near Shaver Lake, California. It is currently about 39% contained.[1] The fire has mostly burned in the Sierra National Forest. The fire necessitated the rescue of hundreds of people by National Guard helicopters.[4] Half the homes in Big Creek were reported to be destroyed by the fire.[5][6] Evacuations were issued in Auberry, California.[7]

Animation of the formation of a pyrocumulonimbus above the 2020 Creek Fire in California

The fire

The fire began around 6:40 PM PDT on Friday, September 4, 2020, in the Big Creek drainage area between Shaver Lake and Huntington Lake, California. Driven by powerful Diablo winds, the Creek Fire quickly became a firestorm, with NASA documenting that the fire created a pyrocumulonimbus cloud (pyroCb) believed to be one of the largest pyroCb events seen in the United States, likely due to the sheer size of the fire.[8] The fire is being fed in part by these clouds as they create rain and wind to give more oxygen to the fire, and allow it to jump fire lines.[9] The fire has been characterized as a plume-dominated blaze, where the environment allows for the continued upward blowing of smoke and the vertical transfer of heat causing extreme fire behavior. Such behavior was seen as multiple fire tornadoes were observed through Doppler weather radar data.[10] With over 290,000 acres (1,200 km2) burned as of September 23, the Creek Fire became the largest single blaze in the history of California.[11]

Within the initial 4 days of sparking, the Creek Fire was able to rapidly explode, expanding anywhere between 20,000 acres (81 km2) to 50,000 acres (200 km2) each day from September 4–9. The main reasons for this explosive behavior were strong, gusty winds pushing east from the Sierra Nevada and also the pileup of about 150 million dead trees in the mountains due to the 2011-17 California drought and the infestation of bark beetles. These dead trees acted as fuel for the fire.[12]

Impact

Firefighters extinguish a controlled burn to stop the spread of the Creek Fire

Scores of people were airlifted from hiking trails within the Sierra National Forest in the early days of the fire, with at least 150 people and some dogs evacuated by September 8.[13] The fire had initially trapped about 1,000 people near Mammoth Pool Reservoir after it jumped the San Joaquin river, with at least 200 individuals trapped at a boat launch.[10]

As of September 9, at least 60 homes were destroyed and 278 commercial-residential structures were destroyed along with the historic Cressman's General Store, a local-landmark.[14] On September 9, the fire reached explosives stored by the China Peak Mountain Resort that were used to control avalanches causing the cache to explode. Firefighters had been warned of the cache and evacuated prior to the fire reaching the explosive materials.[15]

As of September 22, the fire had destroyed more than 855 structures and forced the evacuation of over 30,000 people in Fresno and Madera counties.[1][16] Smoke from the fire, worsened the air quality in the Central Valley area and caused an increase in at-risk individuals and children to be affected by respiratory issues and an increase in the use and prescribing of inhalers.[17] On September 17, the Boy Scouts of America - Southern Sierra Council announced that the fire had badly damaged Camp Kern, with some significant structures fully destroyed by the fire.[18]

Multiple organizations and locations housed pets and livestock during the evacuations, such as the Fresno Fairgrounds,[19] Clovis Rodeo Grounds and local high schools.[20] The Red Cross organized hotel rooms for evacuees; group shelters were not an available option due to COVID-19 pandemic social distancing requirements.[14]

Fire growth and containment process

Fire containment status[2]
Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained;
Date Area burned
acres		 Containment
Sep 5 36,000
0%
Sep 6 73,278
0%
Sep 7 78,790
0%
Sep 8 152,833
0%
Sep 9 163,138
0%
Sep 10 175,893
0%
Sep 11 182,225
6%
Sep 12 196,667
8%
Sep 13 201,908
10%
Sep 14 212,744
16%
Sep 15 228,025
18%
Sep 16 244,746
18%
Sep 17 246,756
20%
Sep 18 248,256
20%
Sep 19 271,938
25%
Sep 20 278,368
27%
Sep 21 280,425
30%
Sep 22 283,724
30%
Sep 23 289,695
32%
Sep 24 291,426
34%
Sep 25 291,426
36%
Sep 26 292,172
39%

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Creek Fire". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Creek Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. InciWeb. September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "Creek Fire Update: National Guard Helicopter Rescue Missions Turned Back By Heavy Smoke; Fire Grows To 135,523 Acres; One Death In Fire". September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  4. ^ Fedschun, Travis (September 6, 2020). "Creek Fire". Foxnews. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  5. ^ Warszawski, Marek (September 6, 2020). "Creek Fire consumes half the homes in tiny town. 'Words cannot describe the devastation'". Fresno Bee. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  6. ^ Romero, Sheyenne N. (September 6, 2020). "More than 200 campers rescued by helicopter as Creek Fire prompts state of emergency in California: What we know". USA Today. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  7. ^ https://ktla.com/news/california/creek-fire-forces-evacuation-of-entire-town-in-central-california/
  8. ^ Jenner, Lynn (2020-09-08). "California's Creek Fire Creates Its Own Pyrocumulonimbus Cloud". NASA. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  9. ^ Murphy, Paul (2020-09-09). "The Creek Fire is creating massive thunderhead clouds that are fueling its growth". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2020-09-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ a b Freedman, Andrew (September 6, 2020). "California endures record-setting 'kiln-like' heat as fires rage, causing injuries". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-09-10.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Jacobo, Julia. "Creek Fire becomes largest single blaze in California history". abcnews.go.com. ABC News. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  12. ^ Yurong, Dale (9 September 2020). "Creek Fire: Wildfire burning at historic pace through Sierra Nevada". KFSN. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  13. ^ Favro, Marianne (September 8, 2020). "3 South Bay Backpackers Rescued From Raging Creek Fire". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 2020-09-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ a b Hughes, Trevor (September 9, 2020). "The human toll of Creek Fire: 'Our entire community is gone'". VisaliaTimesDelta.com. Retrieved 2020-09-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ Yeager, Joshua (September 11, 2020). "'A real milestone': Creek Fire reaches 6% containment, 175,000 acres burned". VisaliaTimesDelta.com. Retrieved 2020-09-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Ortiz, John Bacon, Trevor Hughes and Jorge L. (September 9, 2020). "'We could hear the trees exploding': Deadly swath of wildfires rage in the West; death toll rises to 6". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2020-09-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Yurong, Dale (September 17, 2020). "Creek Fire: More Valley kids experiencing respiratory issues since wildfire started". ABC30 Fresno. Retrieved 2020-09-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Staff, BakersfieldNow (2020-09-17). "Camp Kern destroyed by Creek Fire". KBAK. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  19. ^ Girardin, Shayla (2020-09-10). "Fresno Fairgrounds opens as an animal evacuation shelter, donations needed". ABC30 Fresno. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  20. ^ Price, Nancy (2020-09-09). "Animals Find Shelter from Creek Fire at Clovis North, Clovis Rodeo Grounds". GV Wire. Retrieved 2020-09-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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