Last updated October 14, 2022
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Soberanes Fire 2016

Carmel

The Soberanes fire erupted on July 22, and in the days that followed, extreme temperatures fueled the fire as it burned in a drought-parched landscape of the steep and rocky hillsides of the Garrapata State Park. Extreme conditions delayed full containment of the fire until October 12, by which time it had burned 132,127 acres, destroyed 57 homes and 11 outbuildings. In mid-September, fire fighting costs to combat the blaze totalled $260 million, making the Soberanes fire the costliest wildfire fight in US history.

Extreme heat and years of ongoing drought, both linked to climate change, are increasing wildfire risk in California. Fourteen of California's 20 largest wildfires burned since 2000.

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Soberanes Fire
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Global Warming
Large Scale Global Circulation Change
Land Surface Temperature Increase
Atmospheric Blocking Increase
Air Mass Temperature Increase
Land Surface Drying Increase
Extreme Heat and Heat Waves
Drought Risk Increase
Wildfire Risk Increase
Soberanes Fire 2016