Number of homes destroyed passes 300 mark
Nearly 2,000 homes and other structures lay within the southern perimeter of the fire encompassing rural Solano County. Of those, CAL FIRE officials say 1,391 structures were not damaged.
(Photo by the author)
The number of single-family homes destroyed in Solano County by last month’s wildfire has reached a grim milestone.
Updated figures released by CAL FIRE late Friday evening said the number of single-family residences destroyed by the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire stood at 309, with another 60 homes reported in various states of damage.
Overall, 714 structures were destroyed and another 140 damaged when the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire swept through rural Fairfield, Vacaville and Winters from August 18 to August 19. (Winters is incorporated in neighboring Yolo County, but rural parts of Solano County carry a Winters postal address and are counted in CAL FIRE’s report.)
Of the six Northern California counties impacted by the wildfire, Solano County has the highest number of damaged or destroyed structures, according to CAL FIRE data. That number is likely to increase as survey crews continue to visit areas impacted by the blaze.
Nearly 2,000 homes and other structures lay within the southern perimeter of the fire encompassing rural Solano County. Of those, CAL FIRE officials say 1,391 structures were not damaged.
As of Friday evening, the fire had grown to 375,209 acres and was 88 percent contained — figures that have remained unchanged since September 1. Evacuation orders have been lifted or converted into evacuation warnings in many counties where the fire continues to burn.
Fast Facts
375,209 acres burned
88 percent contained
1,759 firefighters, 39 crews assigned
1,491 structures destroyed across six counties
309 single-family homes destroyed in Solano County
6 commercial buildings destroyed in Solano County
140 homes and other buildings damaged in Solano County
5 fatalities, 4 injuries confirmed
Public information line: 1-707-967-4207
Information accurate as of Friday, September 4 at 6:30 p.m. PDT
Watches, Warnings & Advisories
The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning from Saturday, September 5 to Tuesday, September 8. Forecasts call for temperatures to be well over 100 during the Labor Day Weekend.
Due to the increase in temperatures, California ISO has issued a Flex Alert from Saturday through Monday between the hours of 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. each day. A Flex Alert is issued when California’s independent energy regulator assumes power consumption will be increased due to various factors, including weather forecasts. Power outages are possible if equipment used to provide electricity to the grid becomes overheated.
The National Weather Service has also issued a Fire Weather Watch from Monday, September 7 at 10 p.m. until Wednesday, September 9 at 8 a.m. for much of Northern California, including Solano County and Yolo County, due to forecasts that include high temperatures, low humidity and gusty wind. Any fires that start have the potential to spread quickly
Local Assistance Center
Solano County has partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) to establish a local assistance center at the Solano Community College satellite campus in Vacaville.
The local assistance center is a one-stop location for recovery and support services provided by local, state and federal partners. FEMA officials will also be on hand to help with in-person applications for federal disaster relief aid.
The local assistance center opens this Sunday, August 30 and will be available to residents between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Face masks and social distance protocols will be required. Residents who don’t have a face mask will be provided one for free. (Read more)
The center is a physical version of Solano County’s virtual assistance center, which will remain accessible online at SolanoCountyRecovers.org. The virtual assistance center provides information on financial assstance, vital document replacement services, mail re-routing and delivery, temporary housing, healthcare and mental health offerings. It also provides connections for veterans and agriculture workers who need various forms of assistance due to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire.
For more information on either the virtual or physical local assistance center, call Solano County officials at 1-707-784-1575 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time.
Alert Solano
The Solano County Sheriff’s Department is requesting members of the community sign up for Alert Solano, a free service that offers real-time public safety alerts, including evacuation notices, severe weather, road closures/openings and other critical information. These alerts are delivered by phone call, text messages and/or email messages based on your preference. (Sign up here)
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LNU Solano is not affiliated with Solano County or any public safety agency. During times of crisis, always follow the direction of law enforcement and other public safety officials. Plan ahead for wildfires at www.readyforwildfire.org.