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User:Penitentes/Homestake Mine Fire

Coordinates: 39°00′43″N 120°47′13″W / 39.012°N 120.787°W / 39.012; -120.787
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Homestake Mine Fire
A black-and-white photograph of flames burning among a stand of conifers
The Homestake Mine Fire burning among a stand of conifers (undated CDF image)
Date(s)
  • August 20 (20-08) – August 27, 1960 (1960-08-27)
  • (7 days)
LocationTK County, California, United States
Coordinates39°00′43″N 120°47′13″W / 39.012°N 120.787°W / 39.012; -120.787[1][a]
Statistics
Burned area44,551 acres (18,029 ha; 70 sq mi; 180 km2)
Impacts
Damage>$500,000 in structural damage and timber losses (equivalent to about $3.9 million in 2023)
Map
Refer to caption
The extent of the Homestake Mine Fire
Refer to caption
Refer to caption
The general location of the Homestake Mine Fire in...

The Homestake Mine Fire, also called the Volcano Fire or the Foresthill fire, was a large wildfire in TK County, California in August 1960. The fire ignited on August 20 and burned more than 44,000 acres (18,000 hectares) over the course of a week before it was contained on August 27.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/999579711/?match=1&terms=%22homestake%20mine%20fire%22 45,790 acres

https://www.newspapers.com/image/378372732/?match=1&terms=%22donner%20ridge%20fire%22 45,798 acres

location of ignition[2]

https://www.newspapers.com/image/618030819/?match=1&terms=%22homestake%20mine%20fire%22

https://www.newspapers.com/image/999575481/

https://archive.org/details/casbcfm_000010

https://www.newspapers.com/image/1097198920/?match=1&terms=donner%20fire%2044000

https://www.newspapers.com/image/458814505/?match=1&terms=foresthill%20fire%2045000

https://www.newspapers.com/image/474785968/?match=1&terms=foresthill%20fire%2045000

https://www.newspapers.com/image/282683738/?match=1&terms=foresthill%20fire%2045000

Background

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In 1961 there were 2,503 wildfires on Forest Service land in California, higher than the five-year average of 1,742; these fires burned a total of 194,000 acres (79,000 ha) against the five-year average of 117,500 acres (47,600 ha). Roughly 65 percent (872) of these fires were started by lightning and the remaining ~35 percent (1,631) were caused by humans.[3]: 2 

The California state forester's annual report for 1960 noted that wildland vegetation was as dry by May as it was in July in a typical year, and that days of very high to extreme fire hazard were "two to three times as numerous as during the average season". The report also remarked that "1960 could well have seen the most devastating record of fire destruction in the history of California if adverse weather alone had been the deciding factor".[3]: 1–2 

Progression

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The Homestake Mine Fire began on Saturday, August 20, 1961. The fire was first reported by an Amador Air Patrol aircraft whose crew spotted smoke emanating from the canyon of the Middle Fork American River at 2:05 p.m.[3]: 27 

The Homestake Mine Fire was declared controlled at 12:01 p.m. on Saturday, August 27.[b]

The total area reported burned in the Homestake Mine Fire varies by source; the state forester's 1960 annual report listed a figure of 44,551 acres (18,029 ha),[3]: 30 

Effects

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See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ The coordinates given are for the Homestake Mine, namesake of the fire and a location near to its point of ignition.[2]
  2. ^ 'Containment' and 'control' of a wildfire are technical terms used by fire officials. A wildfire is contained when it is completely encircled by control lines (including fire breaks, burned-out areas, and natural features). A wildfire is controlled when it is contained and has been extinguished such that it no longer threatens to spread any further.[4]

Citations

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  1. ^ "Homestake Mine, Foresthill, Forest Hill Mining District, Placer County, California, USA". Mindat.org. Archived from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Arden, Tom (August 25, 1960). "US Checks Highway Job In Probe Of Donner Fire: Seek to Fix Criminal, Civil Responsibility". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved January 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d The State Forester's 1960 Report (Report). California Division of Forestry. 1961. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2024 – via California Revealed.
  4. ^ Hassan, Adeel (July 28, 2022). "Wildfire Terms Defined: What It Means When a Blaze Is 30 Percent Contained". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
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