Smoke from the Sites Fire in Colusa County is seen from a remote camera Tuesday morning, June 18, 2024.
Courtesy ALERT CaliforniaA rash of major wildfires continued to rage in Northern California on Tuesday, propelled by winds and fueled by a tinder-dry landscape, as other blazes erupted throughout the state.
The Sites Fire, which ignited Monday afternoon in Colusa County, had charred 10,000 acres by Tuesday morning, making it the largest and fastest-growing inferno in the northern part of the state. Firefighters scrambled to beat back the flames that exploded from Lodoga Road and scorched vast swaths of grass and brush. Evacuation orders were issued for residents of home and ranches along several roads in the area, and a portion of Sites Lodoga Road was closed.
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ACT NOWThe fire generated large plumes of smoke, some of which drifted into the North Bay. Residents of Napa and Colusa counties said in social media posts that they woke up to smoke odors and ash dusting their car windshields.
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- California Fire Tracker: The latest on wildfires across the state
- California Air Quality Map: Check real-time conditions in your region
In Calaveras County east of Stockton, crews began building a fireline to contain the Aero Fire, which had engulfed 5,245 acres, forcing evacuations and closures on Highway 4 and destroying three structures. A slight dip in winds and a more dampness overnight improved conditions for firefighters. Cal Fire reported that the blaze was 20% contained Tuesday morning.
The Aero Fire burns Monday, June 17, 2024, near Copperopolis (Calaveras County).
Courtesy Cal FireMeanwhile the Point Fire in Sonoma County — a major focus on Monday — had burned 1,207 acres, including at least two homes. The blaze tore through Dry Creek Valley, a region known for Zinfandel, sprawling vineyards and scenic roads lined with cottages. Although dozens of wineries and vineyards lay in the fire’s path Monday, firefighters seemed to be gaining the upper hand by Tuesday morning, at which point they had the Point Fire 40% contained.
More than a dozen fires ripped through various parts of the state, with eight new ones flaring up Monday afternoon. In addition to the Sites and Aero Fires, among them were:
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Coast Fire: The 15-acre fire started at 1:40 p.m. Monday at the Botchers Gap Campground in Monterey County. It was 5% contained early Tuesday morning.
Douglas Fire: The Sacramento blaze started at Douglas and Grant Line roads at about 2 p.m. Monday, growing to 327 acres. It was 0% contained.
The largest fire in the state, the Post Fire in Southern California, kept spreading Tuesday along the Grapevine section of Interstate 5. It has consumed 15,611 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, prompting the evacuation of 1,200 people in Hungry Valley State Park. The fire was 24% contained, Cal Fire reported Tuesday, though parched, windy conditions were making it difficult to control as it burned southeast toward Lake Pyramid in steep, hard-to-reach areas.
Weather forecasts in the Bay Area and Central Valley gave cause for optimism Tuesday, with low clouds forming and winds shifting onshore.
Lingering smoke from the Sites Fire impacted morning air quality in parts of the North Bay and central Bay Area, and into the Santa Clara Valley. With the smoke layer roughly above 1,000 feet, air quality was worst in the hills. However, westerly winds were expected to increase in the afternoon, which should blow clean air back into the Bay Area.
Relative humidity was expected to increase slightly but still remain “fairly low,” at 20% or below, said Courtney Carpenter, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office.
Fire risk should gradually diminish during the course of the week, meteorologists predicted, with the return of foggy June weather
But red flag warnings indicating critical fire weather remained in place Tuesday morning, through an expanse of the interior state stretching from Redding in the north to the Angeles National Forest in Southern California, according to the National Weather Service. Wind gusts and dry conditions seemed most dangerous in the northern and central Sacramento Valley, forecasters reported, citing the highest threat in the area west of Interstate 5. Many warnings were set to expire at noon.
Reach Rachel Swan: rswan@sfchronicle.com
Rachel Swan is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. She joined the Chronicle in 2015 after stints at several alt weekly newspapers. Born in Berkeley, she graduated from Cal with a degree in rhetoric and is now raising two daughters in El Cerrito.
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