See more Robert A Eplett images at the California OES Flickr Photostream.
Northern California Fires 2008 - Overview
Information on the Big Sur, Butte County, Shasta-Trinity and Yosemite fires in June and July of 2008
Last Updated: August 1, 2008
There's been dramatic containment since the Northern California fires began in June 2008. CalFire claims that 98 percent of the original fires (more than 2000) are contained. See July 31 Cal Fire map (from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) for locations.
Yosemite Fire - July 2008
Go to Yosemite fire details, updated August 1, 2008.
California Fires & Air Quality
The air in many parts of the Bay Area has cleared. But conditions do change, based on fire containment and winds. The cleaner skies have been a welcome reprieve for all of those areas affected by the smoke drift.
If you live in an area where air quality is still questionable, see the American Lung Association's fact sheet for dealing with fire-related air quality issues.
Get General Fire Updates
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection posts regular updates here on fires in progress.
How to Help
Relief organizations and victims of the fires can always use donations and help, even as the worst of the fires dissipates.
Loss of Homes, Forests, Wildlife
To say that these evacuations, damages and displacements have been devastating to people in the fire zones, is to completely understate the issue.
It's also impossible to ignore the destruction to forests and parks . . . and the wildlife losses that occur.
General Resources - Northern California Fires
- CAL FIRE: CA Dept of Forestry and Fire Protection
- American Red Cross
- Wildlife & Wildfires (video)
- Noah's Wish and United Animal Nations: National animal/disaster rescue orgs
On the next pages: How to help with Big Sur and Butte County fires