River Fire (2020) Explained
The River Fire was a wildfire that broke out from a lightning storm early on August 16, 2020 in Monterey County, California, south of Salinas, near River Road and Mount Toro.[2] [3] Within its first day, it spread to 2,000 acres and was 10% contained; mandatory evacuations were ordered, while air and ground crews worked the fire.[4]
On August 17, the fire, three miles south of Salinas, spread to 2,800 acres and threatened 1,500 structures; four firefighters were injured.[5]
The fire had burned 4,070 acres by August 18,[3] and as of August 19, the fire had grown to over 10,000 acres.[6] By August 21, over 42,000 acres had burned and the fire was 12% contained. The nearby Carmel Fire was over 5,069 acres and five percent contained.[7]
On September 4, Cal Fire reported that both the River Fire and the Carmel Fire were 100% contained. The River Fire had burned 48,088 acres and the Carmel Fire had burned 6,905 acres; between them, they had destroyed 103 structures and damaged 20.[8]
When a strong atmospheric river winter storm came to the burned area in January, 2021, a mudslide occurred and damaged homes and barns near River Road,[9] and trapped several horses that were later rescued.[10]
Notes and References
- Web site: River Fire Information. Cal Fire Incidents . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. September 4, 2020. September 4, 2020.
- News: Szydlowski . Joe . Here's how a freak storm ignited, and then inflamed, the River Fire in Monterey County . 7 October 2020 . . 18 August 2020.
- News: Cabral . Angelica . Cimini . Kate . UPDATE: New evacuation orders on 4,500-acre River Fire, which is still only 10% contained . 7 October 2020 . The Californian . 18 August 2020.
- News: Mandatory evacuations issued for 2,000-acre River Fire burning near Salinas . August 16, 2020 . ksbw.com . August 16, 2020.
- News: Copitch . Josh . River Fire August 17: 2,800 acres burned, 1,500 structures threatened . August 17, 2020 . ksbw.com . August 17, 2020.
- News: UPDATE: River Fire grows to over 10,000 acres – Second blaze breaks out near Carmel Valley Village . August 19, 2020 . montereyherald.com . August 19, 2020.
- News: Copitch . Josh . Carmel and River Fires Aug 21: Carmel and River fires move toward Carmel Valley . August 21, 2020 . ksbw.com . August 21, 2020.
- News: Copitch . Josh . River and Carmel Fire both 100% contained: Cal Fire . September 5, 2020 . ksbw.com . September 4, 2020.
- News: Nguyen . Chris . Homes damaged, several rescued after mudslide near wildfire burn scar in Monterey Co. . 3 February 2021 . ABC 7 News . 27 January 2021.
- News: Taylor . Dennis L . Salinas: Multiple teams join to rescue horses hit by River Road mudslide . 3 February 2021 . Monterey Herald . 29 January 2021.
