Placer County Sheriff locates 13 missing hikers in fire zone: What we know about the search and rescue

Wildfires are currently raging across the state of California due to a heat wave and high winds creating ideal conditions for these dangerous natural disasters. Much of the state is under a heat advisory or a warning that wildfires could erupt as the summer starts with extremely hot temperatures.

Over the weekend, a fire named the Royal Fire broke out near Lake Tahoe, burning 54 acres of land, roughly the size of 41 football fields. Shortly after, it was reported that thirteen hikers, whose ages were later confirmed to be between 16 and 20, were missing in the area. On Monday, the Placer County Sheriff confirmed that the missing hikers had been located using a helicopter. We are still awaiting confirmation that it is, in fact, this group, through the sheriff’s office released this post earlier this morning saying that search and rescue teams would be “inserted to hike them out.”

Has the fire grown?

USFS-Tahoe National Forest reported that the fire had grown on Monday to more than 168 acres, and 0 percent had been contained. The growth of the fire will create challenges for the rescue team, which will need to be careful that it does not lead the group towards areas that could be quickly engulfed.

Fires burn across the state

The Lake Fire, near Santa Barbara, has burdened 20,320 acres since it began on July 5, according to CalFire. The Basin Fire, which is 60 percent contained, has burned more than 14,000 acres since igniting on June 26. So far this year, no firefighters or emergency personnel have lost their lives while they battle the blaze, but more than 100 structures have burned, the vast majority of which have been destroyed.

How many acres have burned?

Since the start of this year, 150,082 acres have burned due to 3,311 wildfires. The Lake Fire, which is only 8 percent contained, tops the list of the most far-reaching fire and the number of acres the fire consumes continues to grow. Already, more acres have burned in 2024 than throughout the entire fire season the state lived through last year. At this point in July 2023, 8,674 acres had burned as a result of 2,847 fires. While the number of fires is not dissimilar, the scale of the flames appears to be much higher this year, with those dangerous conditions facilitating a stronger fire to take hold. All in all, 2024

Last year, at this point, 8,674 acres had burned as a result of 2,847 fires. While the number of fires is not dissimilar, the scale of the flames appears to be much higher this year, with those dangerous conditions facilitating a stronger fire to take hold.