User:Penitentes/Homestake Mine Fire
1960 wildfire in California
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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.
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- August 20 – August 27, 1960
- (7 days)
| Penitentes/Homestake Mine Fire | |
|---|---|
 The Homestake Mine Fire burning among a stand of conifers (undated CDF image) | |
| Date |
|
| Location | TK County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 39.012°N 120.787°W[1][a] |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | 44,551 acres (18,029 ha; 70 sq mi; 180 km2) |
| Impacts | |
| Cost | >$500,000 in structural damage and timber losses (equivalent to about $4.1 million in 2024) |
| Map | |
 The extent of the Homestake Mine Fire | |
  Location within California | |
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
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
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