California, 2009Wildfire in California, October 3 to 10, 2009
October 3 to 10, 2009 · NWS SGX · 1 event in 1 county or zone
The Sheep Fire started along Sheep Creek Road near Lytle Creek around 1311 PST on October 3rd. The fire spread rapidly towards Wrightwood, scorching a total of 7,128 acres before being contained on October 10th.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 8
- Property damage
- $750,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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.
The Sheep Fire started along Sheep Creek Road near Lytle Creek around 1311 PST on October 3rd. The fire spread rapidly towards Wrightwood, scorching a total of 7,128 acres before being contained on October 10th. The fire forced approximately 5,000 residents to evacuate and destroyed one residence, four other structures, five cars, four RVs, and 2 pieces of heavy equipment. Eight firefighters were injured. The fire cost over eight million dollars to fight. Investigators say the fire was started by a human, but it is still unclear whether it was intentional or not.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS San Diego, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 3, 1:00 PM PST, 11 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Oct 3, 1:00 PM PST, 11 minutes before
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</html>Wildfire, San Bernardino County Mountains
- When
- October 3, 1:11 PM PST to October 10, 12:30 PM PST
- Where
- San Bernardino County Mountains forecast zone
- Injuries
- 8 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $750,000
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
- Coordinates
- 34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
- 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.
- Lightning Strike in Maine, October 3, 2009$175,000 · 1 event
- Dust Storm in Washington, October 3 to 4, 20097 injured · 1 event
- High Wind in Montana, October 3 to 4, 2009$50,000 · 50 kt wind · 1 event
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, October 3 to 4, 20090.75 in hail · 18 events
- High Wind in Nevada, October 3 to 4, 2009$15,000 · 67 kt wind · 8 events
- Strong Wind and Winter Weather in California, October 3 to 4, 2009$15,000 · 2 events
- Winter Storm in Montana, October 3 to 5, 20099 events
- Heavy Snow in Oregon, October 3 to 4, 20093 events
- Winter Weather in Nevada, October 3 to 4, 2009$5,000 · 3 events
- Tropical Storm in Guam, October 3 to 4, 2009$5,000 · 1 event
- Marine Thunderstorm Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, October 3, 20091 event
- Tornado in Texas, October 3, 2009$3,000 · EF0 · 1 event
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 200087.