California, 1998

Wildfire in California, September 1 to 4, 1998

September 1 to 4, 1998 · NWS SGX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Wild fires started by lightning on the 31st of August continued through the first few days of the month. As thunderstorm activity diminished and cooler weather developed, fire fighters were able to contain these large fires.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS SGX wrote it up.

Wild fires started by lightning on the 31st of August continued through the first few days of the month. As thunderstorm activity diminished and cooler weather developed, fire fighters were able to contain these large fires. For total damage and acreage burned, refer to Storm Data entries on August 31st.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Orange

When
September 1, 12:00 AM PST to September 4, 5:00 AM PST
Where
Orange County, 8 mi NE of Lake Forest
Reported by
PARK/FOREST SERVICE
Coordinates
33.677, -117.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wildfire, Riverside

When
September 1, 12:00 AM PST to September 3, 7:00 AM PST
Where
Riverside County, Hemet
Reported by
PARK/FOREST SERVICE
Coordinates
33.744, -115.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Wildfire
A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in California, September 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5666845, 5667124.