The year 2020 brought a particularly challenging wildfire season to Lassen County, California, with seven significant fires burning either entirely or partially within its borders. These events collectively consumed a vast area, totaling 203,296 acres, making Lassen County one of the regions most heavily impacted by wildfires in California during that year. The fires varied in cause, size, and destructive power, leaving a lasting mark on the landscape
and communities.
Diverse Origins and Early Season Blazes
The 2020 Lassen County wildfire season saw fires ignited by various causes, including lightning strikes and unknown origins. The Hog Fire, for instance, broke out on July 18, 2020, near Susanville, the county seat, from an unknown cause. This fire quickly expanded, covering over 8,000 acres within its first few days, eventually reaching 9,564 acres before being fully extinguished on August 17, 2020. It resulted in the destruction of two structures.
Shortly after, on July 20, the Gold Fire ignited south of Adin along Highway 139. This fire, burning in a rural landscape, grew to 21,870 acres. The Gold Fire proved to be more destructive to property, destroying thirteen structures and damaging an additional five. Two firefighters were also injured in a burnover incident during this fire, highlighting the dangers faced by those battling the blazes.
Lightning Strikes and Cross-County Impacts
As the season progressed into August, lightning became a more prominent cause of ignition. The Loyalton Fire, which started on August 15, was caused by lightning strikes and burned across Lassen, Plumas, and Sierra counties. This fire was particularly notable as it led the National Weather Service to issue the first-ever fire whirl warning in U.S. history. It ultimately consumed 47,029 acres, destroying five homes and six outbuildings.
Another lightning-sparked fire, the Sheep Fire, ignited on August 17. This fire burned in Lassen and Plumas counties and was initially considered part of the North Complex. It covered 29,570 acres, primarily within the Plumas and Lassen National Forests, before its full containment on September 9, 2020. The Sheep Fire also caused significant property damage, destroying 26 structures, and resulted in one injury.
The Largest and Most Destructive Fires
The W-5 Cold Springs fire, ignited by lightning on August 18, became the largest fire in Lassen County during the 2020 season. This extensive blaze burned across Lassen, Modoc, and Washoe counties, eventually growing to 84,817 acres before its containment on September 14. Its spread into Washoe County, Nevada, underscored the cross-state impact of some of these wildfires.
While not the largest in terms of acreage, the Laura 2 Fire, which started on November 17, proved to be the most destructive in Lassen County for the 2020 season in terms of structures lost. Despite burning a comparatively smaller area of 2,800 acres, it destroyed 48 structures and damaged four others before its containment on November 24. The cause of the Laura 2 Fire was unknown, adding to the diverse set of challenges faced by fire management officials throughout the year.
