Multiple wildfires ignited across California on Tuesday, June 17, consuming hundreds of acres combined and prompting evacuation orders and warnings in San Diego, El Dorado and Santa Clara counties.
The fires come a week after the over 4,000-acre Ranch Fire exploded in San Bernardino County and follow recent forecasts that point to later summer and fall as when parts of California will see heightened threats of wildfires.
The number of acres that wildfires have consumed in California this year has surpassed figures for the same time from last year and the five-year average, according to statistics from Cal Fire.
As of June 16, over 89,000 acres burned in California this year, compared to the 27,692 acres as of this time last year and the five-year average of 17,760 acres for the same period.
Here’s an update on the three wildfires that began on June 17 in California.
Fire in Lakeside: 400-acre Monte Fire is 20% contained
The Monte Fire started in the afternoon on Tuesday, June 17, burning near the 15000 block of El Monte Road in Lakeside in San Diego County, the San Diego County Sheriff’s office reported. The 400-acre fire is 20% contained and is moving at a slow rate of spread, according to an update on the morning of Wednesday, June 18 from Cal Fire and San Diego County Fire. Fire officials said that some firefighters will be flown in by helicopters to build containment lines as some areas of the fire are inaccessible by ground. City News Service reported that two firefighters suffered minor injuries while fighting the wildfire. The blaze has prompted evacuation orders, and the cause of the vegetation fire is under investigation.
Fire in Shingle Springs: 181-acre Bonanza Fire is 15% contained
The Bonanza Fire started at 2:31 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, in an area east of Shingle Springs in El Dorado County, prompting evacuation orders by the late afternoon. The 181-acre fire is 15% contained, according to an update from the Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit, and forward progress had been stopped by the evening of June 17. The cause of the wildfire is under investigation, and KCRA reported that the fire burned multiple vehicles.
Fire in San Jose: Approximately 92-acre Ranch Pl Fire fully contained
The Bonanza Fire spread at least 80 acres in El Dorado County, California on Tuesday, June 17.
The Ranch Pl Fire is fully contained at 92.3 acres, the Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit said in an update on the morning of Wednesday, June 18. The wildfire started at 4:17 p.m. on June 17, burning in an area near Ranch Place and Old Piedmont Road in San Jose in Santa Clara County, according to fire officials. All evacuation warnings have been lifted, and all homes have been repopulated, fire officials said. The cause of the wildfire is under investigation.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: San Jose fire fully contained. Are the other wildfires still burning?