King Fire Explained

King Fire
Reference:[1]
Coordinates:38.782°N -120.604°W
Pushpin Map:USA California
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of fire in Northern California
Area:97717acres
Cause:Arson
Injuries:12
Fatalities:0
Image Map Caption:The footprint of the King Fire, west of Lake Tahoe and north of U.S. Route 50
Evacuated:2,830

The 2014 King Fire was a large wildfire in El Dorado County, California, which burned 97717acres primarily in the Eldorado National Forest. The wildfire started on September 13, 2014, near Pollock Pines, California, to the east of Sacramento. The ensuing fire suppression effort, which cost more than $100 million and engaged more than 8,000 personnel at its peak, allowed for the full containment of the King Fire by October 9, 2014. Despite the size and ferocity of the fire, it caused no deaths. Eighty structures were destroyed, the majority of them outbuildings. The King Fire was determined to have been caused by an act of arson and a suspect was swiftly apprehended and convicted in 2016.

Background

Much of the Eldorado National Forest where the King Fire burned had no recent fire history. The last major wildfire there had been the Cleveland Fire in 1992, which burned roughly 22500acres.[2]

Progression

The King Fire began on Saturday, September 13, 2014.[3] It was ignited by an act of arson along King of the Mountain Road—from which the fire got its name—in Pollock Pines, a small community along U.S. Route 50 in the western Sierra Nevada between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.[4]

On September 16, three days after starting, the fire had spread to 11520ha, forcing the evacuation of over five hundred homes.[5] A handcrew of ten inmates and a fire captain were saved from being overrun when they were led to safety by a helicopter that was staged at the nearby Swansboro Country Airport.[6]

On September 17, the fire underwent a rapid expansion, pushing forward 15miles and burning an additional 50000acres. Firebrands and embers created spot fires more than 3abbr=outNaNabbr=out downwind of the main fire.[7] California governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in El Dorado County, citing the fire's threat to water and power infrastructure.

By September 18, the fire had expanded to 73184acres, becoming the second largest wildfire of the 2014 California wildfire season.[8] [9]

By the start of October the fire had grown to 97099acres with containment increasing to 94%. On October 9, the perimeter of the King Fire was reported to be 100% contained, with a final acreage of 97717acres.[10] [11] The U.S. Forest Service calculated the total cost of fighting the King Fire at approximately $117 million.

Cause

The firefighters first on scene detected multiple points of origin for the King Fire, leading the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office to swiftly conclude that arson had been the cause. Within days, witnesses came forward and disclosed that they had encountered Wayne Huntsman, a Pollock Pines resident and former inmate firefighter, near the scene of the fire's origin. Huntsman had told two of them "You better get home. Your house is going to burn down." After being given a ride near the fire, Huntsman had shown another man a 'selfie' video of himself in the forest, surrounded by flames. The man recorded Huntsman's video and submitted the information to authorities.

On September 18, 2014, Wayne Huntsman was arrested on suspicion of intentionally starting the fire.[12] [13] He initially pled not guilty to the charges,[14] but in April 2016 pled guilty to arson. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, the maximum allowable sentence, and ordered to pay $60 million in restitution by an El Dorado County Superior Court judge.[15] [16]

Effects

The King Fire injured a total of twelve people.[17] It destroyed 12 residences and 68 other structures.

Closures and evacuations

The King Fire threatened hydroelectric infrastructure and recreation areas throughout the Sierra Nevada west of Tahoe. The U.S. Forest Service closed trails to the Desolation Wilderness from the Eldorado National Forest on September 11.[18] The total number of evacuees reached 2,830.

Environmental impacts

The King Fire produced copious amounts of smoke, pushing parts of Placer, El Dorado, Nevada, and Amador counties into unhealthy-to-hazardous ranges of PM2.5 air pollution. Officials temporarily deployed emergency air-quality sensors throughout the Sierra.[19]

Growth and containment

Fire containment statusGray

contained;

Red: active; %: percent contained;!Date!Area burned in acres (ha)!Personnel!Containment
Sep 13.........
Sep 14[20] 30000NaN0806 personnel
Sep 15[21] 86000NaN01,477 personnel
Sep 16[22] 127800NaN02,466 personnel
Sep 17[23] 279300NaN03,367 personnel
Sep 18[24] 731840NaN03,842 personnel
Sep 19[25] 763760NaN04,936 personnel
Sep 20[26] 809440NaN04,901 personnel
Sep 21[27] 820180NaN05,557 personnel
Sep 22.........
Sep 23.........
Sep 24[28] 929600NaN07,952 personnel
Sep 25[29] 953470NaN08,061 personnel
Sep 26[30] 970990NaN07,214 personnel
Sep 27[31] 970990NaN05,863 personnel
Sep 28[32] 970990NaN04,878 personnel
Sep 29[33] 970990NaN03,401 personnel
Sep 30[34] 970990NaN02,364 personnel
Oct 1[35] 970990NaN02,557 personnel
Oct 2[36] 977180NaN02,451 personnel
Oct 3[37] 977170NaN02,382 personnel
Oct 4[38] 977170NaN02,095 personnel
Oct 5[39] 977170NaN01,904 personnel
Oct 6[40] 977170NaN01,734 personnel
Oct 7[41] 977170NaN01,734 personnel
Oct 8977170NaN0......
Oct 9977170NaN0...

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Giant King fire burns 10 homes, could be whipped up as weather shifts. 22 September 2014. Los Angeles Times. 21 September 2014.
  2. News: September 20, 2014 . King fire burns more than 80,000 acres in Northern California . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160224132952/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-king-fire-northern-california-20140920-story.html . February 24, 2016 . February 21, 2024 . Los Angeles Times.
  3. Web site: King Fire Facts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220726064338/https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd566026.pdf . July 26, 2022 . February 20, 2024 . www.fs.usda.gov . Eldorado National Forest.
  4. News: Wang . Yanan . April 11, 2016 . The telltale selfie that nailed the man responsible for California's epic King fire . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211026101036/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/04/11/the-telltale-selfie-that-nailed-the-man-responsible-for-californias-epic-king-fire/ . October 26, 2021 . February 20, 2024 . The Washington Post.
  5. Web site: King Fire in El Dorado County. Sacramento Bee. 21 September 2014.
  6. News: Dan . Megna . 1600 Yards to Freedom . 46 . Vertical Magazine, Heli-Expo news . 2015 . 11 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150419023250/http://www.verticalmag.com/digital_issue/2015/shownews/files/48.html . 19 April 2015 .
  7. News: Rocha . Veronica . Xia . Rosanna . September 18, 2014 . Massive King fire sets off even louder alarms in California . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119052617/https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-north-wildfires-20140919-story.html . January 19, 2024 . February 20, 2024 . Los Angeles Times.
  8. News: Berman . Mark . September 19, 2014 . Massive King fire in California continues to grow . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230608100020/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/09/19/massive-king-fire-in-california-continues-to-grow/ . June 8, 2023 . February 21, 2024 . The Washington Post.
  9. Web site: King Fire General Information. Cal Fire. 21 September 2014. 1 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150701083045/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1059. dead.
  10. Web site: King Fire . 21 September 2014 . InciWeb.
  11. News: Flores . Adolfo . October 9, 2014 . 97,000-acre King fire is fully contained, officials say . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160601185144/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-king-fire-contained-20141009-story.html . June 1, 2016 . February 21, 2024 . Los Angeles Times.
  12. News: Rocha. Veronica. Xia. Rosanna. Man arrested on suspicion of arson in out-of-control King fire. September 21, 2014. Los Angeles Times. September 18, 2014.
  13. News: Jessica A. . York . King Fire arson suspect is former Santa Cruz man . Santa Cruz Sentinel . Mercury News . September 19, 2014 . February 17, 2023 .
  14. Web site: King Fire arson suspect pleads not guilty . KXTV . Sacramento . September 20, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006110832/http://www.news10.net/story/news/local/eldorado-hills/2014/09/19/king-fire-arson-charged-huntsman-not-guilty-plea/15908805/ . October 6, 2014 .
  15. News: Wayne Allen Huntsman Sentenced to 20 Years For Setting King Fire . April 8, 2016 . CBS News Sacramento . February 17, 2023 .
  16. News: Vives . Ruben . April 8, 2016 . King fire arsonist who took selfie video pleads guilty . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20191001213831/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-king-fire-arsonist-pleads-guilty-20160408-story.html . October 1, 2019 . February 21, 2024 . Los Angeles Times.
  17. News: September 21, 2014 . Massive King fire still rages, could be whipped up as weather changes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200925113213/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-king-fire-grow-weather-wind-20140921-story.html . September 25, 2020 . February 20, 2024 . Los Angeles Times.
  18. News: Weiser . Matt . September 18, 2014 . King Fire affects hydroelectric facilities, recreation areas . https://web.archive.org/web/20240221144810/https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article2610231.html . February 21, 2024 . February 21, 2024 . The Sacramento Bee.
  19. News: Weiser . Matt . September 19, 2014 . Smoke from King fire reaches 'hazardous' levels . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240221145547/https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article2610463.html . February 21, 2024 . February 21, 2024 . The Sacramento Bee.
  20. Web site: September 14, 2014 . King Fire Update September 14 PM . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170516034925/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24415/ . May 16, 2017 . InciWeb.
  21. Web site: September 15, 2015 . King Fire Update September 15 PM . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170516034910/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24429/ . May 16, 2017 . InciWeb.
  22. Web site: September 16, 2014 . King Fire Update September 16 PM . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170516034847/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24452/ . May 16, 2017 . InciWeb.
  23. Web site: September 17, 2014 . King Fire Update September 17 PM . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170516034836/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24483/ . May 16, 2017 . InciWeb.
  24. Web site: September 18, 2014 . King Fire Update September 18 PM . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170516034752/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24505/ . May 16, 2017 . InciWeb.
  25. Web site: September 19, 2014 . King Fire Update September 19 Pm . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150918022942/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24532 . September 18, 2015 . InciWeb.
  26. Web site: September 20, 2014 . King Fire Update September 20 AM . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170505190742/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24537/ . May 5, 2017 . InciWeb.
  27. Web site: September 22, 2014 . King Fire Update September 21 Pm . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160403101547/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24559/ . April 3, 2016 . InciWeb.
  28. Web site: September 24, 2014 . King Fire Update September 24 PM . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523091745/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24638/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.
  29. Web site: September 25, 2014 . King Fire Update September 25 PM . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523091719/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24656/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.
  30. Web site: September 26, 2014 . King Fire Updates September 26 PM . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523091649/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24672/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.
  31. Web site: September 27, 2014 . King Fire Update September 27 PM . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523091624/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24687/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.
  32. Web site: September 28, 2014 . King Fire Update September 28 AM . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523091555/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24693/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.
  33. Web site: September 29, 2014 . King Fire evening Update 9-29-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523092109/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24702/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.
  34. Web site: September 30, 2014 . King Fire evening update 9-30-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523092048/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24709/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.
  35. Web site: October 1, 2014 . King Fire evening update - Oct 1, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523092009/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24716/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.
  36. Web site: October 2, 2014 . King Fire evening update Oct 2 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523091951/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24722/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.
  37. Web site: October 3, 2014 . King Fire evening update Oct 3, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523091934/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24730/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.
  38. Web site: October 4, 2014 . King Fire evening update Oct 4 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523091913/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24733/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.
  39. Web site: October 5, 2014 . King Fire evening update Oct 5, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523091853/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24736/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.
  40. Web site: October 6, 2014 . King Fire evening update Oct 6 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523091812/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24740/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.
  41. Web site: October 7, 2014 . King Fire morning update Oct 7 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523091802/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4108/24741/ . May 23, 2017 . InciWeb.

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