Sparked by lightning strikes, extreme wildfire conditions and an unrelenting heatwave, California’s unprecedented 2020 fire season set a new state record with more than 2.5-million acres burned, doing so by early September, and also accounted for three of the state’s top four largest wildfires ever.
In mid-August, multiple complex wildfires burned throughout Northern California, including the August Complex in Mendocino National Forest, now the largest wildfire in state history. The SCU Lightning Complex in Santa Clara and neighboring counties and the LNU Lightning Complex in the Wine Country areas of Lake and Napa counties moved into third and fourth all-time, respectively, for the state’s largest wildfires.
Governor Gavin Newsom secured a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on Aug. 20 for the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties and for the SCU Lightning Complex on Aug. 21. President Donald J. Trump approved California’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration on Aug. 22 to bolster the state’s emergency response to wildfires burning in Northern California and support impacted residents in Lake, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
Firefighters were besieged by another onslaught of massive wildfires in early September. Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency on Sept. 6 in the counties of Fresno, Madera and Mariposa for the Creek Fire, in San Bernardino for the El Dorado Fire, and in San Diego for the Valley Fire.
California received mutual aid from at least a dozen states, as well as international first responder assistance.
Visit us on Twitter!
Tweets by Cal OES
Get the latest news from Cal OES
- Crisis Counseling Assistance is Available to LA County Wildfire Survivors March 5, 2025LOS ANGELES – If you are feeling overwhelmed by emotions, stress, or hopelessness, you are not alone. Help is available for disaster survivors experiencing emotional distress following the wildfires. The Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program is a federally funded program administered by FEMA which has been activated for disaster survivors in Los Angeles County. The Substance Abuse and […]
- If FEMA Initially Finds You Ineligible for Assistance, You Still Have Options March 5, 2025LOS ANGELES – If you received a letter from FEMA that says you’re ineligible for assistance, you still have options. A quick fix, like providing more information, may change FEMA’s initial determination. Duplication of benefits is a common reason for a FEMA ineligibility determination. If you already accepted an insurance settlement or other benefit for the damage […]