U.S.

The Key Numbers in the California Wildfires

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Josh Edelson/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images 
Dozens of wildfires have burned tens of thousands of acres in California and prompted the evacuation of entire communities. The fires are part of a regional phenomenon of severe drought and heat that has gripped the West.
Here are the latest statistics on the California wildfires:
California is now in its fourth year of drought. This has turned much of the state into what Gov. Jerry Brown described as a “tinderbox.”
There have been thousands of lightning strikes in the past few weeks alone that have sparked fires on drought-parched land, emergency officials said.
Noah Berger/European Pressphoto Agency 
From the beginning of the year through Aug. 3, states and national forest services have responded to nearly 5,500 wildfires. That is about 1,200 more fires than in the same period last year.
Jim Wilson/The New York Times 
Those fires have so far charred 180,000 acres, compared with about 87,600 acres in the same period in 2014.
There are at least 23 locations where wildfires are burning in California, according to the latest statistics. Some of the locations have individual fires within them, a California fire spokesman, Daniel Berlant, said.
More than 10,000 firefighters are trying to extinguish and contain the wildfires.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America 
The largest wildfire, nicknamed the Rocky Fire, encompasses three counties — Yolo, Lake and Colusa — and has so far spread over 68,000 acres.
Noah Berger/European Pressphoto Agency 
In the largest order of its kind now in effect, about 13,000 people, most in the last week, have been told to evacuate or advised that they may need to leave their homes.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images 
One firefighter has been killed. David Ruhl, 38, from Rapid City, S.D., died last week while on assignment near the border with Oregon. There have been no reports of civilians killed or injured in the 23 wildfires.
Black Hills National Forest, via Associated Press 
About $71 million, which is the general budget plus emergency funds, has been spent so far on firefighting from the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1. The total 2014 figure was estimated at $432 million.
Kent Porter /The Press Democrat, via Associated Press