Gov. Gavin Newsom provides update on wildfire response, COVID-19 pandemic
(KION) UPDATE 8/24/2020 12:30 p.m. Gov. Gavin Newsom shared an update on wildfires burning around the state Monday and more information about what officials are doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in evacuation shelters.
By this date last year, 4,292 fires burned 56,000 acres, but 7,002 fires have burned 1.4 million acres so far this year.
There are currently 625 fires burning around the state Monday, and 10 were reported in the previous 24 hours resulting from 289 lightning strikes around the state, though the lightning was not as bad as officials expected. Newsom said there still may be sleeper fires that have not been found yet.
Three of the largest major fires currently burning include the LNU, SCU and CZU Lightning Complex Fires. The LNU fire is currently the second largest in state history, and the SCU fire is the third largest in state history. Newsom said he was in Santa Cruz County Sunday visiting shelters housing evacuees from the CZU August Lightning Complex Fires.
President Donald Trump issued a Major Disaster Declaration for parts of California, including Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, to provide assistance for fire survivors.
Around the state, more than 14,000 firefighters and more than 2,400 engines have been deployed to fight the fires. There are 91 engines from Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, Oregon, Utah and Washington, and eight are on the way to California from Montana. 375 engines have been requested, and California will get National Guard support from Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Kansas.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 in evacuation shelters, health screenings and assessments are being conducted before entry, and Newsom said congregate shelters are requiring masks, practicing social distancing and using air purifiers. There are 2,211 evacuees currently in shelters, and 1,480 of them are in non-congregate shelters, such as hotels, while 731 people are in the 17 congregate shelters in 7 counties.
Newsom said nearly 5,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported as of Monday, and the 7-day average is at nearly 5,800 new cases per day. Hospitalizations have decreased by 20% on average over 14 days and ICU admissions have decreased by 19% over the same time period.
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According to Cal Fire, more than 1.4 million acres have burned in more than 7,000 California widlfires so far. More than 1,500 structures have been damaged or destroyed.
There are more than 663,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in California as of Aug. 22, according to the California Department of Public Health. 12,134 people have died.
