82,000 Evacuated as ‘Once in a Lifetime’ Wildfire Shocks California

With more than 25,000 acres still burning, firefighters managed to achieve four percent containment of the Blue Cut fire in California late Wednesday night.

The blaze, which spread from a few acres to 30,000 in just 24 hours, was called a “once in a lifetime kind of fire” by the U.S. Forest Service. Sizzling temperatures, tree die-off and the ongoing drought—exacerbated by climate change—created a perfect storm of conditions for the fire.

Not your imagination: 13 of California's 20 largest wildfires on record have burned in last 16 years. #climatechange pic.twitter.com/Ffwz0RAHx5

— Climate Signals (@ClimateSignals) August 17, 2016

#BluecutFire burns 1,500 acres in San Bernardino National Forest above Devore, officials say https://t.co/u5lTveArpyhttps://t.co/cjq3afd8QP

— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) August 16, 2016

Here’s a map showing the Blue Cut Fire:

For a deeper dive:

News: LA Times, Washington Post, ThinkProgress, US News & World Report, Pacific Standard, PBS Newshour, Wall Street Journal

Commentary: TIME, Justin Worland column

Background: Climate Signals

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