On July 24, 2024, Park Fire broke out in California in a suspected arson attack. As of July 28, 2024, it has burned over 350,000 acres of land in the northeast of Chico. The enormous wildfire has grown by 8 sq miles an hour (or 20 sq km) as it spreads across different parts of Northern California. It is known to be the largest fire in the state in 2024 and 7th largest ever recorded in California.
Rising global temperatures, melting snowpacks, and delayed rainfall are all some of the key contributors to wildfires, and the state of California has seen an uptick in them in recent years. With 346,232 emergency responses and 4,521 wildfires, California has witnessed some devastating fires.
Power outages are common during California wildfires. From transformers heating up to trees downing power lines, the reasons for these can be numerous. Jackery Solar Generators are a reliable power backup option for your home. These solar generators give you access to electricity to power up most of your essential appliances during an emergency and stay connected with your loved ones.
Key Takeaways
- California has witnessed some of the most devastating wildfires in recent years.
- The primary causes of these wildfires are climate change and human negligence.
- Creating a Wildfire Action Plan, protecting your family and pets, and hardening your home to prevent wildfires are essential.
- Always keep a bug-out bag handy if you need to evacuate during a wildfire.
- Jackery Solar Generators are a reliable power backup option that you can use during a power outage caused by a wildfire.
California Wildfires Facts
As the introduction mentions, California has witnessed 4,521 wildfires in 2024 alone. These have burnt a total of 169,516 acres and affected 128 structures in total. 2023 saw a total of 7,127 wildfires, which destroyed 324,917 acres.
2022 saw similar destruction to 2023, with 7,477 wildfires destroying 331,358 acres. These numbers show the extent to which the state of California battles wildfires every year and signal the immense destruction they can cause if not reported on time or contained.
Typically, the summer months are most susceptible to wildfires, particularly so when the monsoons lead to the growth of vast amounts of vegetation, which then dries up as temperatures rise. As a result, these provide ready fuel for wildfires to ignite and wreak havoc if not contained.
Risks to California Wildfires
As the data above shows, California is no stranger to wildfires, and they’re only set to increase in number and intensity as the effects of climate change worsen. They’re a major threat to public safety, property, wildlife, water bodies, and the air quality of the state as a whole. Here’s how they affect each of these aspects:
- Public safety: Wildfires can spread quickly and uncontrollably if they’re not reported on time and have enough fuel to keep them ignited. They can prove to be a major risk to the public at large, with the potential to harm those in their homes, camping in the woods, and so on.
- Property:Wildfires are also a major risk to property. Whether it’s agricultural land, buildings, homes, public property, or even vehicles, in some cases, they can burn down anything in their path if they’re not controlled.
- Wildlife:When wildfires burn through forests, they often lead to the death of countless animals, particularly when they spread in crown fires (from treetop to treetop). Besides burning animals themselves, they also destroy their natural habitat.
- Water Bodies:Wildfires are also a major threat to water bodies. The ash and debris left behind often enter these bodies, contaminating them and preventing animals and other communities from using them.
- Air Quality:Besides the risks to public safety and property, wildfires also adversely affect the air quality in the region. They lead to increased carbon monoxide levels in the air, affecting wildlife and human beings alike. They can also lead to humans inhaling ash and other particles, irritating the eyes, nose, and so on.
Often, they also take the lives of those among rescue teams fighting to put out these fires. In fact, 2023 saw a total of four fatalities, with one of them being a civilian and the three others being firefighters. This number was higher in 2022, with a total of nine fatalities, all of whom were civilians.
As a result of the threat to the air quality, California in 2009 included wildfires as a threat to its Climate Adaptation Strategy to adapt to the future threat to the air quality as a result of wildfires.
Burn Permits in California
Given California’s susceptibility to wildfires, there are certain times of the year when the risk of wildfires is higher. During these times, burning hazardous dead vegetation on residential properties is unsafe.
CAL FIRE, California's leading government authority on fire prevention, is responsible for issuing campfire and other permits and is often the first responder if a wildfire breaks out. As a homeowner, you must always check with your local CAL FIRE station and air quality management agency before burning.
Three major types of permits are issued for burning in California. These include Campfire Permits, Residential Burn Permits, and other burn permits. These are described in greater detail below:
- Campfire Permits:If you plan on burning a campfire, using a barbecue, or a stove outside a designated campsite, you must obtain a campfire permit. Campfires have the potential to lead to devastating fires that are left unchecked, and the permits are a means of ensuring that individuals understand the importance of responsibly using fires.
- Residential Burn Permits:When burning debris on residential plots, there are certain precautions you must follow to ensure the fire is manageable and eventually doused responsibly. Failing to get a permit will result in violating regulations and fines being levied.
- Other Burn Permits:California also issues permits for large pile burning, agricultural burns, incinerators, etc.
NOTE: A CAL FIRE permit is only valid for SRA (State Responsibility Area) residents or places where CAL FIRE has jurisdiction. Once you’ve confirmed that you live in a region under CAL FIRE’s jurisdiction, you can complete your application on the CAL FIRE website.
Past California Fire Season Data
This section examines the statistics more closely. Below is a list of the number of acres destroyed or burned by wildfires in California for the past eight years, leaving aside 2024.
- 2023 - 324,917 acres burned
- 2022 - 331,358 acres burned
- 2021 - 2,569,386 acres burned
- 2020 - 4,304,379 acres burned
- 2019 - 277,285 acres burned
- 2018 - 1,975,086 acres burned
- 2017 - 1,599,640 acres burned
- 2016 - 669,534 acres burned
California Wildfire Contacts and Resources
One of the best ways to minimize the occurrence of or even reduce the scale of destruction wildfires cause is to report them as early as possible. While it’s crucial to act responsibly and prevent one in the first place, reporting a potential wildfire on time can help rescue services eliminate the threat and prevent the potential loss of life and property.
There are several reasons why reporting a wildfire is essential. These include:
- A delay in reporting a potential wildfire can lead to it turning from containable to uncontrollable.
- Uncontrollable or large wildfires pose significant threats to natural life and residential areas around them, potentially causing harm, property damage, and more.
- They result in major risks for firefighters and civilians as groups band together to douse the flames and bring the fires under control.
The table below highlights the various resources you can contact in the event of a wildfire in California.
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Agency |
Contact |
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Public Safety Communications - Main Office - (916) 894-5209 |
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Angeles National Forest Headquarters |
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There are several resources that you can refer to if you want an overview of the fires in California. Fire maps can help you locate fires across the state, along with details such as the acreage they burned, the extent to which they were contained, and an overview of the fires over the last 24 hours.
While each resource will give you different information, each highlights the size of a fire along with other basic details. Here are two you can refer to:
- CAL FIRE Incident Map:The CAL FIRE website provides an incident map along with other information, such as a list of wildfires each year, which county they were in, when they started, the area they burned, and to what extent they were contained.
- Frontline Wildfire Defense:The Frontline Wildfire Defense app provides a map of California’s wildfires and a tracker. The app is available for both Android and iOS.
While these resources provide a way to evaluate California’s wildfires in real-time, you must also know how to read these maps. Here are a few key details to look out for:
- Location Search: You can use your PIN code to search for fires in your location and evaluate your action.
- Incident Updates: You can refer to incident updates for specific fires. For instance, on the CAL FIRE website, you can click on a particular fire on the map to access information such as when it started, which country it’s in, the size of the area it burned, the extent to which it’s been contained, and when the information was last updated.
- Layers:The CAL FIRE website’s map also offers layers that allow you to filter information on the map. These layers include Active Air Assets, 5-Year Fire History, Counties, Red Flag & Intense Heat Warnings, and Smoke and Haze Forecasts.
District-Wise Fire Restrictions in California
California has several state-wide restrictions that are in place all year round. According to these, individuals must take certain precautions when building and maintaining a fire, using a campfire, charcoal, coal, or a wood stove outside a designated campsite. Some of these precautions include:
- Create and maintain a space five feet in diameter that’s been cleared down the soil and is free of any inflammable materials in all directions of the fire.
- Have a functional round-point shovel about 35 inches long that’s readily available to use if a fire is ignited.
- Possess a valid California Campfire Permit, which you can get free of charge here.
Aside from these critical precautions, all three districts of California (Northern California, Central California, and California Desert) have restrictions. This section lists these state-wise restrictions for your reference.
Northern California District
Given below are some of the key restrictions set in place by the various regional field offices in the Northern California District:
- All three restrictions and precautions mentioned above, with respect to the nature of the designated space for a fire, possessing a round-point shovel, and a valid California Campfire Permit.
- No campfires or wood/charcoal/briquette barbecues are allowed. Further, pressurized gas-powered stoves or grills are only allowed with a valid California Campfire Permit.
- No smoking is allowed unless you’re in an enclosed vehicle, a designated recreational site, or any other designated area.
Central California District
These are a few key restrictions mandated by the various regional field offices in the Central California District:
- No welding or operating acetylene or a torch with an open flame.
- No motorized vehicles or tools powered by an internal combustion engine are to be driven off designated roads or trails.
- Possessing, discharging, or using pyrotechnic devices or fireworks is prohibited across Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lands. A valid California Campfire Permit is required to operate a stove or fire on these public lands.
California Desert District
Some of the key restrictions in the California Desert District include:
- Always clear a five-foot circle around your campfire and possess a California Campfire Permit.
- Use a shovel and water to completely douse your campfire before leaving.
- Park cars and other vehicles away from areas where their exhausts could cause grass or other vegetation to ignite.
For a more detailed breakdown of the restrictions listed by each of the regional field offices in all three districts, you can refer to the Bureau of Land Management website.
How to Prevent California Wildfires
Preventing a wildfire, particularly if you’re in fire season or a place susceptible to wildfires, is of the utmost importance. In fact, its importance is demonstrated by the fact that human-caused wildfires account for about 87% of all wildfire occurrences yearly.
As a result, there are several reasons why preventing wildfires is crucial:
- They can cause severe damage to public property.
- They threaten the lives of civilians and firefighters.
- They lead to the destruction of natural habitats and wildlife.
- They can lead to the air and water bodies getting severely contaminated.
- They can lead to extended power outages if a burnt tree falls on a power line.
There are three key aspects to consider when preventing a wildfire in California. These include avoiding a wildfire for yourself, preventing it for your property, and preparing a detailed evacuation plan. The forthcoming sections discuss the steps for each objective in detail.
How to Prepare Yourself for a Wildfire
There are times when a wildfire can potentially cause harm to you and your family, and while it can be scary to have to evacuate your home, it’s often the best course of action. However, the best approach to do this isn’t spontaneous; it must be well-planned and executed, especially if you already know your region is prone to wildfires.
The four steps of preparing yourself and your family for a wildfire are described below.
Create a Wildfire Action Plan
A Wildfire Action Plan is a detailed plan tailored to your and your family’s specific needs and ensures everyone is well-prepared before a wildfire. Your Wildfire Action Plan must include the following elements:
- Meeting Point: A designated meeting point outside the high-risk area to check if everyone has evacuated.
- Escape Routes: Everyone in your household should be familiar with two or more escape routes. It’s recommended that you practice these regularly.
- Animal Arrangements: Make specific arrangements for any pets or livestock you have.
- Communication Plan: Create a communication plan for each family member with someone outside the high-risk area as a single point of contact.
Prepare Your Family
Preparing your family and practicing your Wildfire Action Plan can ensure that every member knows what to do in the event of a fire and instill a sense of calm during a crisis. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Engage young kids with every aspect of your Wildfire Action Plan and explain the importance of each step in simple, easy-to-understand terms. Websites like Ready Kids offer interactive resources to help acquaint children with different kinds of disasters.
- Account for anyone with special needs in the event of a fire and how they can safely evacuate. This US Fire Administration guide provides resources for individuals with special needs to help them protect their homes and themselves during a fire.
- Consider any senior members in your household and ensure they can be safely evacuated in an emergency.
Equipment and Vehicle Use
If you live in a high-risk zone, any equipment you have must be used responsibly to ensure it doesn’t ignite a fire in any manner. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Mow your lawns in the cooler hours of the morning and when it’s not windy.
- Check the spark arresters on all your equipment to ensure they’re in proper working order.
- If you plan on grinding or welding, secure a permit and keep a space of 10 feet clear on all sides. Ensure you have a shovel and a fire extinguisher handy in case of a fire.
- Tow your vehicles safely. Don’t drag chains on the ground; they can spark and ignite fires.
Protecting Your Property During a Wildfire
The key to keeping your property safe during a wildfire is to create a safe perimeter between it and the vegetation around it. This zone is referred to as the defensible space, and it’s divided into three parts. Zone 1 lies between 0-5 feet of your home, Zone 2 lies between 5-30 feet of your home, whereas Zone 3 lies between a distance of 30-100 feet of your home.
The key purpose of creating this defensible space is to prevent the spread of wildfire from any forests or vegetation around your property to your home.
Hardening Your Home
Hardening your home or reducing its structural ignitability refers to understanding how a fire can affect it and what you can do to reduce its spread. Three kinds of flames pose a significant risk to your home. These include:
- Direct Flames:These flames typically come from a neighboring house or a wildfire.
- Radiant Heat: This is the heat from burning objects near your home.
- Flying Embers:Flying embers can ignite homes up to a mile away, making them incredibly destructive.
Here are a few tips to harden your home and make it as fire-resistant as possible:
- Avoid using materials like wood; instead, choose metal, clay, and tile roofing to resist fires.
- Cover your chimney and stove pipe outlets with a non-flammable screen.
- Regularly remove any dry debris and branches from your roof.
- Cut down any overhanging branches that are too close to your home’s structure.
- Choose materials like composite for your decks, and avoid storing any above-ground propane tanks on or under them.
- Keep your gutters free of dry leaves and other vegetation to reduce the chances of them igniting.
How to Prepare for Evacuation
Sometimes, despite all the precautions you might take, you might have to evacuate your home, particularly if fire officers tell you to do so. You should be well-prepared in such a situation, with all the essentials packed and ready in a bug-out bag or bug-out vehicle.
Bug-Out Bag/Go Bag
Here’s a list of all the essentials your bug-out bag must contain if you need to immediately evacuate your home and head to a safer, low-risk location:
- 3 gallons of water per person and 3 days of non-perishable food.
- A map with at least two evacuation routes for your home and property.
- All necessary prescription medication and equipment, such as a ventilator or a CPAP machine.
- Sanitation supplies and a comprehensive first aid kit.
- An extra set of car keys, cash, credit cards, or traveler’s checks.
- A flashlight and extra batteries.
- A Jackery Solar Generator that can power up and recharge most of your appliances, such as smartphones, lights, a CPAP machine, an electric kettle, and so on.
- Copies of all necessary documents.
- Pet supplies and crates or bags.
- Chargers for all your smartphones and other essential devices like laptops.
Evacuation Plan
Before you evacuate your home, you should keep certain pre-evacuation steps in mind. These include:
Step 1: Review your entire evacuation plan checklist, including where to go, who to contact, and how to leave your home safely.
Step 2: Monitor important wildfire updates to know any response plans and evacuation orders.
Step 3: Put your emergency or go bag in your bug-out vehicle so that you have all your essentials ready when you need to leave.
Step 4: Wear clothes that cover your skin entirely, and ideally, wear clothes that are 100% cotton.
Step 5: Create a specific evacuation plan for your pets, including their carriers, food, and other essential documents.
Always remember that the fire officials decide when and where you should evacuate based on the terrain, the winds, and the fire itself.
Jackery Solar Generators for Emergencies
Jackery is among the most renowned brands of solar panels, solar generators, and portable power stations. The Jackery Solar Generators combine Jackery Portable Power Stations with Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels.
When you place the solar panels under direct sunlight, they absorb solar energy from the sun’s rays and convert it into DC electricity. This is then passed through the pure sine wave inverter in the portable power stations to convert DC electricity into AC electricity.
These solar generators are a reliable power backup option during an emergency, such as when a wildfire leads to a power outage or a blackout. The solar panels can be folded, and the power stations are portable, so you can easily carry them in your bug-out vehicle if you need to evacuate your home.
Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro
The Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro is a large-capacity solar generator that you can use to power up most of your appliances during a power outage. The solar panels and the power station are portable, so you can easily carry the whole system during an emergency.
You can charge this system via solar energy or even using a wall charger, so you have multiple options based on where you are. Aside from being used during an emergency, it also works as a good standalone power backup option for your home.
Appliances Running Time:
- Ventilator (20W) = 128.5H
- CPAP Machine (40W) = 64.2H
- Smartphone (29W) = 88.6H
- Portable AC (1150W) = 2.2H
- Refrigerator (520W) = 4.9H
Customer Review:
“Great service and great products. This is our 3rd Jackery. We've been fortunate to have solid backup power during storm outages in the last year.” - Gary.
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus
The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is an expandable solar generator with enough capacity to run most household appliances. You can add multiple solar panels and a battery pack to expand its capacity, making it ideal for extended periods off the grid or during a long emergency.
Like the previous model, the portable power station is easy to carry around. Further, the solar panels are foldable, so you can easily stack them in your bug-out vehicle to carry with you if you need to evacuate your home quickly.
Appliances Running Time:
- Ventilator (20W) = 86.8H
- CPAP Machine (40W) = 43.4H
- Smartphone (29W) = 59.8H
- Portable AC (1150W) = 1.5H
- Refrigerator (520W) = 3.3H
Customer Review:
“Set up a partly sunny day to test, and it performed very well. Operated various appliances, including a mid-sized electric heater. Performed as expected. Purchased for emergencies, I believe it will do the job.” - Julie.
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (4kWh)
The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (4kWh) is another solar generator that can be useful in the event of an extended power outage caused by a wildfire in California. It is also portable and can be carried in your bug-out vehicle, so you can use it if you're going off the grid while overlanding or camping.
Appliances Running Time:
- Ventilator (20W) = 173.6H
- CPAP Machine (40W) = 86.8H
- Smartphone (29W) = 119.7H
- Portable AC (1150W) = 3H
- Refrigerator (520W) = 6.6H
Customer Review:
“Enough power for me for van camping or in a power outage. Holds charge well. Heavy, but the handle is sturdy, and so are the wheels, so easy to move. Haven't charged with solar panels yet- but they seem high quality. Very impressed so far.” - Mo.
How to Stay Safe During a California Wildfire
California wildfires can be immensely destructive, especially if they’re not contained in time. This section lists some of the most important tips from Ready.gov for you to stay safe during a wildfire.
Personal Safety Tips
Here are a few personal safety tips that can help keep you safe during a wildfire:
- Stay updated with fire warnings and any other emergency broadcasts. Charge your devices so you can contact your loved ones and the rescue services.
- Wear an N-95 respirator mask to prevent inhaling smoke and debris such as ash.
- If you’re taking shelter, close all doors and windows and turn off any air-circulating appliances.
- Don’t rush to put out a fire. Doing so could cause you to get burned or injured, and you could face legal risks.
Evacuation Tips
Here are a few essential tips to keep in mind while evacuating:
- Keep your bug-out bag ready in your vehicle with all the essentials listed earlier.
- Evacuate only when fire officers ask you to, and remember to follow their instructions about where to go and when.
- Evacuate your pets and keep their food, carriers, and important documents handy in your bug-out bag.
Driving Tips
Here are a few key tips to remember while driving during a wildfire:
- Turn on your headlights and hazard lights to make your vehicle visible.
- Drive slowly, as you’ll need enough time to react to any debris on the road, fallen power lines, or trees.
Tips for When You’re on Foot
If you’re on foot during a wildfire, here are a few handy tips that can help you keep yourself and your family safe:
- Go to a clear area free of vegetation and get into a ditch or a depression. If possible, move close to a large water body.
- Stay calm and call 9-1-1.
- Speak to a ranger or fire officials to know where to go if you need to evacuate.
Recovery After California Wildfires
All is not over once a wildfire is contained. There are several essential steps you must take to recover once firefighters put out a wildfire. This section lists each of these steps under five key categories.
If Your House Burned Down
Here are a few key steps to follow if your house has burned down in a wildfire:
- Don’t enter your house unless it’s safe to do so. Do so only after you receive the go-ahead from the authorities.
- Find a temporary place to stay. Your home insurance policy should be able to cover the costs of this temporary accommodation.
- Request a copy of the fire report to make it easy for you to file an insurance claim.
- Contact a local relief service to get aid in finding legal and financial services.
Forest Growth After a Fire
Forests are a unique part of nature that won’t completely be eliminated after a wildfire. While a fire can initially destroy all the vegetation around, the fresh rains after a fire can help seeds on the forest floor germinate. Some plants even rely on fires to propagate.
While a forest can recover after a small fire, a larger fire, however, will result in more destruction, and forests may need active assistance to grow again.
Homeowners Insurance
While you cannot buy standalone wildfire insurance, several policies may cover the loss of property caused by a wildfire. To check whether your specific policy covers wildfires, you should take a close look at your policy documents.
Keep in mind that different policies cover different degrees of damage and will compensate you accordingly. However, always ensure to collect a fire report to help you when filing an insurance claim.
The same story applies to car insurance. Whether or not damage to your car as a result of a wildfire is covered will depend on the terms of the policy you hold.
Financing for Wildfire Protection
Some organizations offer financial support for wildfire defense. These could include the costs of a sprinkler system that helps douse the flames in the event of a fire in your home, aside from providing some other benefits.
Mental Health
Dealing with a wildfire can be an emotionally traumatic experience, especially if it results in potential danger to yourself and your family or damage to your home and other property. A few common symptoms after a fire include sleeplessness, anxiety, fear, and shallow breathing.
Sometimes, dealing with such a situation can also lead to PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In fact, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, wildfires are known to be particularly traumatic because of how unpredictable they are. They result in individuals having to make quick decisions about their own safety and well-being, along with that of their family.
California Wildfire FAQs
What size of solar generator do I need for an emergency?
The size of the solar generator you need in an emergency like a wildfire will depend on how many appliances you need to run. For example, if you're using the Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro to run your portable AC (1150W) and refrigerator (520W) at the same time, you can calculate the working hours as follows:
Working Hours = Battery Capacity in Wh × 0.85 ÷ Operating Wattage of the Appliance = 3024Wh × 0.85 ÷ 1670W = 1.5H
Note: The 0.85 is the power conversion factor multiplied by the battery capacity to account for power loss when charging the appliances.
When is wildfire season in California?
The peak fire season in Northern California runs from around June/July to October/November. The Southern California peak season starts around May/June and ends in October.
How many wildfires in California in 2024?
There have been a total of 3,422 wildfires in California in 2024.
Why are there so many wildfires in California right now?
Droughts and rising temperatures due to climate change are the primary reasons California is experiencing so many droughts right now.
What started the California wildfires?
The key causes of wildfires in California are a mix of human negligence and natural causes, such as climate change. Droughts and dry vegetation are key factors in wildfires.
Wrap up
Like many other US states, California is witnessing a significant uptick in the number of wildfires. This guide has offered wildfire data from the past few years to paint a picture of the devastation they cause, the various steps you can take to prevent them, and how you can keep yourself, your family, property, and pets safe in the event of a wildfire.
However, one of the most important elements of surviving California wildfires is information, and without a power backup system to recharge your phone and other devices to keep you connected to response teams, you’ll find yourself in a difficult situation. Jackery Solar Generators are a reliable option that can run most of your appliances and ensure you can always remain connected.
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