Disaster Discourse: The Hagerty Blog

Wildfires Persist Across California with No Sign of Slowing Down

October 30, 2019 at 12:22 pm

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 AS OF 10:00 AM PST

Reports indicate there are 11 active wildfires across the State of California. While the Tick, Saddle Ridge, and Burris fires are all over 85 percent contained, responders have only contained 30 percent of the Kincaid fire. To-date, the Kincade fire has burned 76,825 acres of land. Strong winds are expected to continue throughout the day, especially across southern California, enabling the wildfires to rapidly spread and increasing the chance of igniting a new active fire. High winds are still expected across the state, with speeds between 60 and 80 miles per hour, potentially exacerbating fire conditions.

CalOES Wildfire Map: Source

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Sempra Energy Utility, and South California Edison have shut off power to many residents experiencing or threatened by active wildfires. Newsweek reported that PG&E has restored power to 75 percent of customers affected by the shutdowns that occurred on October 26, 2019.  Currently, the PG&E shut down will continue to impact approximately 510,000 businesses and residents. The company has set up Community Resource Centers which provide restrooms, charging stations, air conditioning, and bottled water to those affected by the public safety shutdowns. Residents living in communities experiencing or threatened by wildfires and high winds should continue to monitor local news and heed the warnings of local authorities.

CalOES Guidance on Wildfires in California

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages individuals to prepare and plan for wildfires. These events can develop quickly. It’s never too soon to prepare for a wildfire event. Individuals should follow the guidance of local authorities and remain safe as most of the fires are largely uncontained. The Hagerty Blog Team will continue providing information and updates on current events and disasters impacting the nation, visit Disaster Discourse for the latest information.

FEMA Guidance on Preparing for a Wildfire

Evacuations and Emergency Declarations

The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, has declared a State of Emergency amid the scale and magnitude of fires that are burning throughout California.

Here’s the breakdown of public advisories from NOAA’s NHC in decreasing order of severity:

High Wind Warnings:

  • Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley
  • Western Plumas County/Lassen Park
  • West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada, including the cities of Paradise, Chester, Quincy, and Blue Canyon

Red Flag Warnings:

  • Eastern Portion of Shasta/Trinity
  • Northern Sacramento Valley to Southern Tehama County Line Below 1000 Ft
  • Central Sacramento Valley in Glenn, Colusa, Yuba, Northern Sutter, and Butte County Below 1000 Ft
  • Southern Sacramento Valley in Yolo
  • Sacramento Far Western Placer, southern Sutter and Solano County Below 1000 Ft
  • Carquinez Strait and Delta
  • Northern San Joaquin Valley in San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties Below 1000 ft
  • Southern Motherlode From 1000 to 3000 Ft.
  • Tuolumne Unit
  • Stanislaus NF West of the Sierra Crest
  • Southeast Edge Shasta
  • Trinity NF and Western Portions of Tehama
  • Glenn Unit
  • Lake County Portion of Lake
  • Napa-Sonoma Unit
  • Northern Sierra Foothills from 1000 to 3000 Ft.
  • Northern Motherlode From 1000 to 3000 Ft.
  • Northern Sierra Including Lassen NP and Plumas and Lassen NF/S
  • West of the Sierra Crest (West of Evans Peak-Grizzly Peak
  • Beckworth Peak
  • Northern Sierra

Evacuation Orders:

  • Kincade Fire SEE EVACUATION ZONES Here 
  • Getty Fire SEE EVACUATION ZONES Here

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