River Fire (2020)

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]

River Fire
The River Fire smoke plume as seen from the beach at Aptos the day it started
Statistics[1]
Date(s)August 16, 2020 (2020-08-16) – September 4, 2020 (2020-09-04)
Burned area48,088 acres (19,461 ha)
Buildings destroyed30 structures
Non-fatal injuries4

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]

References
  1. "River Fire Information". Cal Fire Incidents. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  2. Szydlowski, Joe (18 August 2020). "Here's how a freak storm ignited, and then inflamed, the River Fire in Monterey County". The Californian. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  3. Cabral, Angelica; Cimini, Kate (18 August 2020). "UPDATE: New evacuation orders on 4,500-acre River Fire, which is still only 10% contained". The Californian. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  4. "Mandatory evacuations issued for 2,000-acre River Fire burning near Salinas". ksbw.com. August 16, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  5. Copitch, Josh (August 17, 2020). "River Fire August 17: 2,800 acres burned, 1,500 structures threatened". ksbw.com. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  6. "UPDATE: River Fire grows to over 10,000 acres – Second blaze breaks out near Carmel Valley Village". montereyherald.com. August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  7. Copitch, Josh (August 21, 2020). "Carmel and River Fires Aug 21: Carmel and River fires move toward Carmel Valley". ksbw.com. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  8. Copitch, Josh (September 4, 2020). "River and Carmel Fire both 100% contained: Cal Fire". ksbw.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  9. Nguyen, Chris (27 January 2021). "Homes damaged, several rescued after mudslide near wildfire burn scar in Monterey Co". ABC 7 News. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  10. Taylor, Dennis L (29 January 2021). "Salinas: Multiple teams join to rescue horses hit by River Road mudslide". Monterey Herald. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
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