As destructive wildfires continue to rage across Northern California, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to assist recovery efforts in impacted counties.
The request was made specifically for regions affected by the Dixie, Antelope, McFarland, Monument and River fires, including Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity Counties. A subsequent request could be made for the Caldor Fire and other blazes, once conditions allow officials to assess "the scope of the damage," the governor's office announced.
"We are deploying every available tool we have to keep communities safe as California battles these catastrophic wildfires driven by climate change impacts," Newsom said. "Even while the fires continue to burn, we are working to put assistance programs in place for impacted individuals to support their recovery from these devastating fires."
The declaration, if approved, will allow people impacted by the massive fires to be eligible for programs such as housing assistance, food aid, counseling, medical services and legal services. The request also includes "public assistance to help state, tribal and local governments with ongoing emergency response and recovery costs."
Twelve major fires are burning across the state, with 13,712 personnel and 1,031 engines working on the front lines to control them.
The Dixie Fire, tearing through Shasta, Butte, Tehamas, Lassen and Plumas Counties, incinerated 725,821 acres and was at 40% containment as of Monday morning, increasing two percent overnight while growing over 1,500 acres, according to CAL FIRE.
The blaze remained active until after midnight, before cooler weather and rises in humidity reduced its spread.
The agency said it's hopeful that quieter weather patterns forecasted this week will allow for more containment of the second largest wildfire in state history.
The fire has destroyed 1,259 structures and continues to threaten another 12,653. It’s burned for 40 days after erupting in Feather River Canyon on July 14.
The agency noted its continuing to mop up various hot spots in both the east and west zones. In addition, crews on Monday will work to minimize the spread of two spot fires in the south end of Genesee Valley.
Meanwhile, the Caldor Fire grew over 2,000 acres overnight to a total of 106,562 acres burned across El Dorado County as of Monday morning, while it remained at 5% containment.
Overnight winds, low temperatures and moderate humidity levels helped slow the blaze’s spread. The agency said that crews continue to encounter "heavy down and drought-stressed fuels that are extremely receptive to spotting."
The Caldor Fire has destroyed 403 structures while currently threatening another 17,488.
The blaze, which first sparked south of the community of Grizzly Flats nine days ago, forced Highway 50 to close between Sly Park Rd. and Twin Bridges last week and officials said Sunday they don’t expect it to reopen in the near future.
The U.S. Forest Service also shut down nine national parks, effective from Sunday until September 6, as a result of the surging infernos.
Updated evacuation orders, as well as shelter information, can be found here for the Dixie Fire and here for the Caldor Fire.
Related
