| 2020 Lassen County, California wildfires | |
| Total Fires: | 7 |
| Total Area: | 203,296 |
| Buildings: | 100 |
| Injuries: | 3 |
The 2020 Lassen County wildfire season included seven large wildfires that burned entirely or in part in Lassen County. A total of 203296acres (or 203296acres) of land was burned in Lassen County, making it one of the larger clusters of fires in the 2020 California wildfire season.[1]
The Hog Fire was a wildfire that broke out on July 18, 2020, from an unknown cause near Susanville, the county seat of Lassen County, California. Within the first few days, the fire quickly spread to over 8,000 acres.[2] Hog grew to a mere 9,564 acres, before it was fully extinguished on August 17, 2020.
See main article: Gold Fire (2020). The Gold Fire was a wildfire that burned south of Adin along Highway 139. Igniting on Monday, July 20, on the east side of Highway 139 in rural landscape, the fire expanded to 218700NaN0 and destroyed thirteen structures while also damaging an additional five.[3]
The North Fire burned in Washoe and Lassen counties. The fire triggered evacuations in Washoe County, and shut off roads in California including US 395.[4]
See main article: Loyalton Fire. The Loyalton Fire was a wildfire burning in Lassen, Plumas, and Sierra counties, caused by lightning strikes in August 2020. During the fire, the National Weather Service issued the first ever fire whirl warning in US history.[5] [6]
Ignited by lightning on August 17, the Sheep Fire burned in Lassen and Plumas counties. Originally part of the North Complex, it burned 29570acres, mostly in the Plumas and Lassen National Forests, before being fully contained on September 9, 2020.[7]
The W-5 Cold Springs was a lightning-sparked fire burning in Lassen, Modoc and Washoe counties. The fire grew up to 84817acres before it was contained on September 14, making it the largest 2020 Lassen County fire.[8]
The November 17th Laura 2 Fire was the most destructive fire in the 2020 Lassen County fire season, despite its relatively small size. It burned 2800acres and destroyed 48 structures before its containment on November 24.[9]
| Name | County (other than Lassen) | Acres | Start date | Containment date | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hog | n/a | 2 structures destroyed | [10] | ||||
| Gold | n/a | 13 structures destroyed; 5 structures damaged; 2 firefighters injured in burnover | [11] | ||||
| North | Washoe, NV | 6,882 acres in total, of which approximately 4,105 acres burned in Washoe County, Nevada | [12] | ||||
| Loyalton | Plumas, Sierra | Lightning-sparked, Caused National Weather Service to issue first ever Fire Tornado Warning; 5 homes, 6 outbuildings destroyed | [13] [14] | ||||
| Sheep | Plumas | Lightning-sparked, 26 structures destroyed, 1 injury | [15] [16] | ||||
| W-5 Cold Springs | Modoc, Washoe, NV | Lightning-sparked. Fire spread eastward into Washoe County, Nevada. | [17] | ||||
| Laura 2 | n/a | Unknown cause; 48 structures destroyed; 4 structures damaged | [18] [19] |