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September 20, 2020 - Containment continues to increase thanks to the efforts of firefighters on 27 major wildfires in California, as well as one extended attack wildfire. With nearly 19,000 firefighters on the front lines, crews continue to gain ground on these fires, as well as responding to 25 initial attack wildfires across the State, all of which were contained quickly.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been over 7,900 wildfires that have burned over 3.5 million acres in California. Since August 15, when California’s fire activity elevated, there have been 26 fatalities and over 6,100 structures destroyed.

Breezy conditions in the Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles Mountains and Antelope Valley continue today, contributing to poor humidity recovery.  Warm conditions remain through most of California, and will continue into the week.  An upper ridge of high pressure is expected to bring warmer and dry conditions to Southern California with a chance of wind events starting mid-week.

Continue Reading on Sierra Sun Times

SAN JOSE — The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection late Wednesday ordered residents living east of San Jose’s city limits to evacuate as the SCU Lightning Complex Fire neared the area.

The evacuation order also applies to areas south of Mt. Hamilton Road; north of Metcalf and San Felipe roads, east to the county line; and east of San Antonio Valley Road to Del Puerto Canyon Road to the county line.

In addition, the following areas are under an evacuation warning as a result of the fire:

• East of Shingle Valley Road and everything east of Anderson Lake, east of Coyote Creek, east of Coyote Reservoir, east of Roop Road, east of Leavesley Road, east of Crews Road and east of Ferguson Road
• East and north of Highway 152
• West of the Merced County line, north of Highway 152
• South of Metcalf Road at Shingle Valley Road east to the Stanislaus County line

A photo tweeted by the National Weather Service showed flames burning close to the Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton.

Continue Reading on Mercury News

California is experiencing several major wildfires amid a record-breaking heatwave. Thousands of acres have been burned and evacuation orders are in place across various counties, including Los Angeles and Monterey.

The National Weather Service forecasts that the heatwave will continue across the west coast of the U.S. for the next few days, with excessive heat warnings and heat advisories in place.

Record high temperatures are forecast and the persistent heat and dry conditions will also promote wildfires across the region. Additionally, thunderstorms could produce dry lightning that could lead to the development of additional fires.

Continue Reading on News Week

Strong winds helped fan the flames on a major fire that consumed a west Keyes agriculture industrial building used to process poultry eggs Thursday afternoon.

Multiple fire agencies including Ceres, Keyes, Hughson, Turlock and Modesto responded to the fire which broke at 12:59 p.m. at the Gemperle Farms facility on Bystrum Road south of Bronco Winery and east of Crows Landing Road. Flames broke out in the northern most of two buildings, sending up a large plume of smoke visible from Modesto to Delhi.

Gemperle Farms said they lost 280,000 chickens in the fire. No human injuries were reported.

“The building was completely involved when I arrived,” said Ceres Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Serpa, “so anything that was inside is going to perish.”

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal