California Fire Season Wakes Up Again With Major Wildfires and Hot, Dry Conditions

California’s fire season has roared back to life in September after settling down somewhat during a cooler-than-average August, and forecasters warn that new powerful wildfires could still come before the winter rains.

In Lake County, the Boyles Fire exploded Sunday afternoon amid hot, dry conditions and quickly destroyed scores of homes. Firefighters have stopped its spread as crews continue to assess the damage, but the conditions that fueled the fire are being felt around the state, as grass and brush are kept critically dry and primed to burn.

Several powerful wildfires now burning out of control in Northern and Southern California, forcing thousands of people from their homes, closing schools and causing power outages.

In Southern California, three major fires — the Line, Bridge and Airport fires — threaten thousands of structures and leave populations swathed by deep smoke. Meanwhile, the region is at the tail end of a heat wave that has broken several records, with an excessive heat warning for multiple counties.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency in San Bernardino County in response to the Line Fire, which has burned over 26,000 acres and threatens over 65,000 structures, according to Cal Fire.

In Northern California, fire officials forecast above-normal conditions for bad fires between now and October.

Although the Bay Area in the next few days can expect a relaxing of the heat and low humidity that fed blazes like the Boyles Fire, it will come with the tradeoff of higher winds.

“We’re seeing that ridge that was responsible for the hot and dry conditions break down,” said Nicole Sarment, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. It’ll be replaced by a pool of cold air sweeping into the upper atmosphere.

“Our main concern that we’re really trying to hammer home is wind,” Sarment said. “People should take precautions, secure objects, trash cans, etc.”

While this will welcome the cooler, moister marine layer, windy conditions could still pose a problem. If fires do get started, Sarment said, they will burn through fuels that are still critically dry and could be carried by the winds.