California, 2016

Wildfire in California, September 5 to 12, 2016

September 5 to 12, 2016 · NWS STO · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Above average temperatures and very dry conditions increased wildfire danger in early September, with the Saddle Wildfire starting on September 5th and being contained by the 12th.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
3
Property damage
None recorded
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS STO wrote it up.

Above average temperatures and very dry conditions increased wildfire danger in early September, with the Saddle Wildfire starting on September 5th and being contained by the 12th.

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 Sacramento, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 5, 1:43 PM PST, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 5, 1:43 PM PST, 2 hours 45 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
243 PM PDT MON SEP 5 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
A warming trend begins today and continues through the week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Pacific upper ridge will gradually build over NorCal through the
week. This will bring a warming trend with temps climbing into the
mid 90's Wed and Thu. Skies will be mostly sunny through the week.
Breezy north winds will occur at times over the northern and
central Sacramento valley into Thursday...strongest Wednesday
morning.

&&
.EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Friday THROUGH Monday)
Dry weather and warm temperatures expected for the end of the
work week through the weekend as weak high pressure remains in
control. Temperatures will be a few degrees above normal. Winds at
this point look relatively light and terrain driven, although
could be a bit breezy at times over the weekend as onshore flow
strengthens. Then the trough passes to northeast with northerly
winds early next week.   JClapp/CEO

&&

.AVIATION...
VFR conditions next 24 hours. Northwest flow aloft behind trough.
Northerly surface winds weaken in Valley tonight while flight
level winds at 2000ft 20 kts tonight into Tue morning.   JClapp

&&

.STO Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
None.
&&

Event by event

1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley

When
September 5, 4:28 PM PST to September 12, 2:51 PM PST
Where
Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley forecast zone
Injuries
0 direct, 3 indirect
Reported by
State Official

At approximately 4:30 pm Monday September 5th, a total of 5 fires constituting the Saddle Fire started on Pentz Road south of Paradise, and rapidly grew in size. There were a total of 850 acres burned by containment on the 10th. The cause of the fires was determined to be a malfunctioning vehicle exhaust system. There were 3 injuries reported. There were 3 structures destroyed, 2 of those being private homes. The fire caused several power lines to go down and it affected power to customers in the area. According to PG&E, more than 300 customers were without power and significant damage was done to the power infrastructure. Evacuations were ordered for the area.

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 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in California, September 2016

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: 648138.