Rocky Fire

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Rocky Fire
A helicopter with a bucket of water slung on a rope beneath it approaches a plume of smoke rising above scrubby green and brown hills
A CH-47 Chinook helicopter of the California Air National Guard performs a water drop on the Rocky Fire
Date(s)
  • July 29, 2015 (2015-07-29) –
  • August 14, 2015 (2015-08-14)
  • (17 days)
LocationLake County, Colusa County, and Yolo County, California, United States
Coordinates38°53′24″N 122°28′34″W / 38.89°N 122.476°W / 38.89; -122.476
Statistics
Burned area69,438 acres (28,101 ha; 108 sq mi; 281 km2)
Impacts
Evacuated~13,000
Structures destroyed96 (8 damaged)
Damage
  • $46.1 million
  • (equivalent to about $57.9 million in 2023)
Ignition
CauseFaulty water heater
Map
The Rocky Fire footprint is shown in bright orange as an irregular circle, bounded by CA 16 and CA 20 with Clear Lake to the west and Interstate 5 to the east
The Rocky Fire's footprint east of Clear Lake
The Rocky Fire is marked on the map north of the Bay Area in Northern California
The Rocky Fire is marked on the map north of the Bay Area in Northern California
The general location of the Rocky Fire in Northern California

The Rocky Fire was a large wildfire in Lake, Colusa, and Yolo counties in Northern California in 2015. The fire burned 69,438 acres (28,101 hectares) between its ignition on July 29 and its full containment on August 14. Caused by a malfunctioning water heater being used for illegal cannabis cultivation, the fire destroyed 96 structures and was the fifth largest fire of the 2015 wildfire season in California, during which 8,283 wildfires burned a total of 880,899 acres (356,487 ha).[1]

Background[edit]

The Rocky Fire burn area largely comprised rough terrain of oak woodlands, grasslands, and chaparral,[2] and had no prior wildfire history going back "several decades", according to the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.[3] This absence is partly attributable to effective fire suppression policies that prevented wildfires from reducing the build-up of vegetation.[4] Dense chaparral had flourished in the meantime, providing plentiful fuel for fire growth.[5] A multiple-year drought then ensued, beginning in 2011. Moisture levels in chamise brush, one of the fuels that characterized the Rocky Fire burn area, had reached near-record lows by the time of the fire, despite September and October typically being the driest months of the year in the state.[4]

Overall, California's 2015 wildfire season was characterized by aggressive fires that, aided by drought conditions, persisted through the night when they were expected to reduce in intensity. By August 8, as the Rocky Fire was underway, the amount of state land burned in wildfires was more than double the five-year average.[6] The Rocky Fire was one of 52 wildfires to exceed 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) in the United States in 2015.[7]: 7 

Progression[edit]

The Rocky Fire began at a property on Morgan Valley Road, east of Clearlake in Lake County, at about 3:30 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, July 29, when a gas-powered water heater in an outbuilding caught fire and set nearby vegetation alight.[8][9] Firefighters were initially dispatched to the incident based on a report of a structure fire on Rocky Creek Road; a second fire was later reported on Morgan Valley Road with an unknown cause.[10] The fire was named the Rocky Fire for its proximity to Rocky Creek, which flows north of Morgan Valley Road.[11] Antecedent high temperatures and winds helped the ensuing fire spread rapidly, entering thick brush and woodlands and advancing forward via ember spotting.[12] In several hours, the fire grew from 150 acres (61 ha) to 3,000 acres (1,200 ha), destroying several outbuildings and necessitating mandatory evacuation orders for about 500 residents. A total of 350 firefighting personnel were engaged on the fire in the first day, joined by eight air tankers and eight helicopters.[11]

By the following afternoon, the fire had burned 8,300 acres (3,400 ha) and forced residents of Lower Lake and nearby roads to evacuate while pushing into the Cache Creek Wilderness and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.[12] By that night, the Rocky Fire spanned 13,500 acres (5,500 ha) in area and was the largest active wildfire in Northern California.[2]

After originally confining itself to a rugged area bounded by California State Route 29 to the west and 16 to the east, the fire became much more active on Saturday, August 1,[3] as temperatures reached more than 100 degrees °F and relative humidity levels approached zero percent. Using bulldozers, firefighters built containment lines ahead of the Rocky Fire's northern and eastern flanks.[13] Toward the end of the day, the fire's rate of spread vastly exceeded what had been predicted by computer modeling, consuming 20,000–22,000 acres (8,100–8,900 ha) in a five-hour period.[14][15] A public information officer with Cal Fire described the growth as "really unprecedented in recent times, or in even veterans of our department’s recollection" for a wildfire not influenced by strong winds.[16] The fire routinely produced large pyrocumulus clouds up to 35,000 feet (11,000 m) in altitude, which had a tendency to collapse and spread the fire erratically when the downdrafts reached the surface.[17]

A man in a white Cal Fire helmet and padded clothing cranes out the side of a helicopter door, with only thick smoke visible beyond his head
A Cal Fire captain looks out for potential hazards during a helicopter water bucket drop on August 1

The Rocky Fire continued to burn actively that night and through the following day. Fire personnel abandoned the containment lines they had built on the northern/eastern flanks, retreating several miles further north to California State Route 20 (CA 20) and further east to California State Route 16 (CA 16). There, they conducted firing operations, burning off fuel between the highways and the fire itself so as to halt its growth in those directions. The Rocky Fire reached approximately 54,000 acres (22,000 ha) in burned area with five percent containment by the end of Sunday, August 2.[13]

Satellite view of the burn scar
The Rocky Fire is seen from directly above as a very roughly circular brown patch on green-to-tan land cover, with the top and left sides issuing gray smoke
The Rocky Fire seen via natural color Landsat 8 satellite imagery on August 3, 2015
With the same point of view as above the Rocky Fire stands out vibrantly as shades of red and orange against now-gray land cover
A simultaneous false-color composite image using short-wave infrared and near-infrared light

By Monday, August 3, fire activity was expected to calm as an incoming weather system brought temperatures down and relative humidity up.[5] In the afternoon, the Rocky Fire crossed CA 20 to the north, despite the firing operations and other preparations the previous day.[18] The fire burned up-slope in a drainage near Cache Creek, creating a large plume that—in combination with a sudden wind shift—caused ember spotting up across the highway up to one mile (1.6 km) away in Long Valley. The fire then proceeded to burn through a subdivision, destroying multiple structures, as it moved north towards Indian Valley Reservoir.[17]

On Tuesday, August 4, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that President Barack Obama had been briefed on the fire by Lisa Monaco, one of his national security advisors, and that the White House would continue to monitor the situation.[17] That same day, the National Interagency Fire Center ranked the Rocky Fire as the highest-priority wildfire in the country for additional equipment and personnel.[19] By August 5, at roughly 69,600 acres (28,166 ha), the Rocky Fire's burned area was more than four times as large as that of any other active wildfire in California, though only the portion of the fire perimeter that had burned across CA 20 remained un-contained.[20]

Despite the setback, by later in the week improved weather conditions had allowed firefighters to double the percentage of the perimeter listed as contained in two days.[21] The number of personnel assigned to the Rocky Fire peaked at more than 3,500 people on August 6.[22] This included hundreds of inmates in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation system worked as firefighters on the Rocky Fire, earning between $1.45– $3.90 per hour, plus a bonus $1.00 per hour for working on a fire.[23]

The fire was declared 100 percent contained on Friday, August 14. The total area burned in the fire was calculated at 69,438 acres (28,101 ha),[7] adjusted down from 69,636 acres (28,181 ha) by more accurate mapping.[24] According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the cost of fighting the fire came to $46.1 million at the time, or roughly equivalent to $57.9 million in 2023, adjusted for inflation.[7]: 9 

Cause[edit]

On August 17, 2016, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) officials announced that the Rocky Fire had been ignited by a malfunctioning gas-powered water heater strapped to a tree and housed in an outbuilding filled with flammable liquids, associated with an illegal cannabis growing operation. A spokesperson called the arrangement "inventive" but "not very safe". Two suspects in the fire—not named by Cal Fire—fled the country before investigators could question them. The Rocky Fire was one of five wildfires related to cannabis cultivation in Northern California in 2015.[25][26]

Effects[edit]

No injuries or deaths resulted from the Rocky Fire.[8] The 96 structures destroyed in the Rocky Fire comprised 43 homes and 53 outbuildings,[25] and a further eight structures were damaged.[8] Most of the burned buildings were in the Morgan Valley area, near the fire's origin.[20] The fire was the third most destructive of the year in California, its toll exceeded only by the Valley Fire in Lake County and the Butte Fire in Amador County.[1]

Closures and evacuations[edit]

The number of people affected by mandatory evacuation orders issued because of the Rocky Fire reached 1,480; when including voluntary evacuation warnings the approximately 13,000 people were affected.[5][15][27] Some residents were forced to stay in hotels, some in one of the two Red Cross shelters established nearby, others in tents in parking lots.[14][15] After fire growth and suppression operations had forced their closure on August 1,[3] California State Routes 20 and 16 re-opened on Friday, August 7. Evacuations were lifted and all road closures but one were lifted in the morning on Saturday, August 8.[28]

Political response[edit]

On July 31, 2015, California governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in response to the Rocky Fire and the multiple other wildfires burning in Northern California.[13] On August 6, Brown visited the Rocky Fire area, meeting with impacted residents and firefighting personnel as well as using the opportunity to speak about the impacts of climate change in California.[29]

Environmental impacts[edit]

Smoke from the fire was carried southeast towards Sacramento, where authorities issued air quality advisories for those with pre-existing respiratory issues.[13] Lake County wineries fretted about possible smoke impacts to grape flavor, but as favorable prevailing winds pushed smoke east instead of west towards the bulk of the county's vineyards, impacts were "minimal to none".[30]

Growth and containment[edit]

Fire containment status
Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained
Date Total area burned Personnel Containment
Jul 29[31] 3,000 acres (1,214 ha) 315 personnel
0%
Jul 30[32] 13,500 acres (5,463 ha) 918 personnel
5%
Jul 31[33] 18,000 acres (7,284 ha) 1,300 personnel
5%
Aug 1[34] 25,750 acres (10,421 ha) 1,940 personnel
5%
Aug 2[35] 54,000 acres (21,853 ha) 2,737 personnel
5%
Aug 3[36] 62,000 acres (25,091 ha) 3,145 personnel
12%
Aug 4[37] 67,000 acres (27,114 ha) 3,478 personnel
20%
Aug 5[38] 69,600 acres (28,166 ha) 3,483 personnel
30%
Aug 6[22] 69,600 acres (28,166 ha) 3,551 personnel
45%
Aug 7[39] 69,600 acres (28,166 ha) 2,966 personnel
50%
Aug 8[40] 69,636 acres (28,181 ha) 2,420 personnel
70%
Aug 9[41] 69,636 acres (28,181 ha) 2,367 personnel
70%
Aug 10[42] 69,636 acres (28,181 ha) 1,344 personnel
85%
Aug 11[43] 69,636 acres (28,181 ha) 773 personnel
88%
Aug 12[44] 69,636 acres (28,181 ha) 361 personnel
95%
Aug 13[24][a] 69,438 acres (28,101 ha) 361 personnel
95%
Aug 14[45] 69,438 acres (28,101 ha) 227 personnel
100%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Reported acreage decreased by 198 acres (80 ha) between August 12 and August 13. This was due to more accurate mapping.

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b 2015 Wildfire Activity Statistics (PDF) (Report). California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Johnson, Julie; Anderson, Glenda; Swindell, Bill (July 30, 2015). "Rocky Fire grows to 13,500 acres in Lake County". The Press Democrat. Archived from the original on March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Rubin, Joel; Chirbas, Kurt; St. John, Paige (August 2, 2015). "Northern California fire explodes; 24 homes lost, thousands threatened". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Fimrite, Peter (August 8, 2015). "Explosive Rocky Fire a warning for drought-parched state". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Megerian, Chris; Rocha, Veronica (August 3, 2015). "Cooler weather, higher humidity aid battle against Northern California wildfire". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  6. ^ Serna, Joseph; Knoll, Corina; Panzar, Javier (August 12, 2015). "Heat wave heightens danger in an already epic summer of fire". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2015 (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024 – via www.nifc.gov.
  8. ^ a b c "Rocky Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  9. ^ Serna, Joseph (August 19, 2015). "Massive Rocky fire near Napa was sparked by faulty water heater, investigators say". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  10. ^ "Investigators determine cause of one of two fires that formed Rocky fire incident". Lake County News. August 19, 2015. Archived from the original on March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Swindell, Bill; Anderson, Glenda; Callahan, Mary (July 29, 2015). "Residents evacuated in face of fast-moving Lake County wildfire". The Press Democrat. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Rocha, Veronica (July 30, 2015). "8,300-acre wildfire north of Napa Valley forces residents to flee homes". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d Chirbas, Kurt; St. John, Paige; Rubin, Joel (August 2, 2015). "Fueled by dry brush and heat, wildfire chars 20,000 acres in 5 hours". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Serna, Joseph; Megerian, Chris; Knoll, Corina (August 4, 2015). "Explosive Rocky fire defies odds and expectations". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c Nir, Sarah Maslin (August 5, 2015). "California Fire, Aided by Drought, Defies Tactics to Defeat It". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  16. ^ Mooney, Chris (August 6, 2015). "California is battling its scariest 2015 wildfire so far — the Rocky Fire". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 18, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c Fimrite, Peter (August 4, 2015). "Experts haven't seen anything like 'insane' Rocky Fire". SFGate. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  18. ^ Megerian, Chris; Chirbas, Kurt; Rocha, Veronica (August 4, 2015). "Thunderstorms may challenge firefighters battling 65,000-acre Rocky fire". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  19. ^ Har, Janie; Bender, Kristin J. (August 4, 2015). "Californians Facing Nights in Wildfire Evacuation Shelters". The Ledger. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Digitale, Robert; Anderson, Glenda; Rossman, Randi (August 5, 2015). "Rocky Fire slowed in Lake County; 43 homes lost in blaze". The Press Democrat. Archived from the original on March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  21. ^ Serna, Joseph; Knoll, Corina; Panzar, Javier (August 12, 2015). "Heat wave heightens danger in an already epic summer of fire". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Rocky Fire Incident Update Sheet" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). August 6, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  23. ^ "Inmates join firefighters on front lines of wildfires". KXTV. August 7, 2015. Archived from the original on March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  24. ^ a b Larson, Elizabeth (August 13, 2015). "Winds continue to be concern on Jerusalem fire; firefighters make more containment progress". Lake County News. Archived from the original on March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  25. ^ a b Thompson, Don (August 17, 2016). "Official: California wildfire in 2015 sparked by pot farm". Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  26. ^ "Cal Fire: Faulty Water Heater Caused Rocky Fire In Lake County". CBS News. August 19, 2015. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  27. ^ Stelloh, Tim; Austin, Henry (August 3, 2015). "California Wildfires: 13,000 Under Evacuation Orders as Rocky Fire Rages". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  28. ^ Branson-Potts, Hailey (August 8, 2015). "Cooler temperatures help firefighters gain 'upper hand' on Rocky fire". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  29. ^ Megerian, Chris (August 6, 2015). "Gov. Brown highlights climate change risks at site of Rocky fire". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  30. ^ Swindell, Bill (August 4, 2015). "Lake County wineries defend vineyards from flames, smoke". The Press Democrat. Archived from the original on March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  31. ^ "Incident Fact Sheet – Update" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). July 29, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  32. ^ "Rocky Fire Incident Update Sheet" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). July 30, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  33. ^ "Rocky Fire Incident Update Sheet" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). July 31, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  34. ^ "Rocky Fire Incident Update Sheet" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). August 1, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  35. ^ "Rocky Fire Incident Update Sheet" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). August 2, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  36. ^ "Rocky Fire Incident Update Sheet" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). August 3, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  37. ^ "Rocky Fire Incident Update Sheet" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). August 4, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 16, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  38. ^ "Rocky Fire Incident Update Sheet" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). August 5, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  39. ^ "Rocky Fire Incident Update Sheet" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). August 7, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  40. ^ "Rocky Fire Incident Update Sheet" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). August 8, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  41. ^ "Rocky Fire Incident Update Sheet" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). August 9, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  42. ^ "Rocky Fire Incident Update" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). August 10, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  43. ^ "Rocky Fire Incident Update" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). August 11, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  44. ^ ""Final" Rocky Fire Incident Update" (PDF). cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). August 12, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  45. ^ "Rocky Fire Incident Information". cdfdata.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). August 14, 2015. Archived from the original on June 22, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
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