# Rough Fire

The Rough Fire was a major wildfire in Fresno County, California, and the largest of the 2015 California wildfire season. The fire was ignited by a lightning strike on July 31 and burned 151,623 acres (61,360 ha), largely in the Sierra National Forest and the Sequoia National Forest, before it was declared contained on November 6, 2015. At the time it occurred, the fire was the thirteenth largest in recorded California history.
The Rough Fire destroyed four structures and caused zero fatalities. Twelve injuries were recorded among the firefighters that responded to the incident, who numbered more than 3,700 at peak staffing in mid-September. The effort to contain the fire cost an estimated $120 million.

## Background

A severe and multi-year drought worsened wildfire risk in California in 2015. The drought and ensuing bark beetle predation on weakened trees contributed to the accumulation of over ten million dead trees in the southern Sierra Nevada by the time of the fire. In addition to these factors, there was little prior fire history—natural or intentional burns—in the area, in some cases extending back 150 years.

## Progression
### July 31–August 31

The Rough Fire was begun by a lightning strike in the evening hours of Friday, July 31, 2015. The location of the fire's ignition was in the southern Sierra National Forest, partway up Deer Ridge between Rough Creek and Deer Creek in the upper drainage of the Kings River. It was first detected by the Buck Rock fire lookout in Sequoia National Forest to the south, and the location of the fire was triangulated with the help of several other lookouts. Lightning touched off several other fires in the region that night, but all were quickly contained.
The Rough Fire—dubbed as such for its initial proximity to Rough Creek, in typical wildfire naming fashion—owed its survival to its rugged and remote location; there were no roads or trails that ground crews could use to access the fire. The section of the Kings Canyon drainage in question contained slopes of eighty to ninety degrees, too steep for ground crews to work safely in. Forest Service experts considered the chances of quelling the fire with air power alone impracticable.
By August 6, a week after ignition, authorities reported the fire as having burned 500 acres (200 ha) with no containment. By Tuesday, August 11, it had grown to more than 5,000 acres (2,000 ha).

### September 1–31

On September 2, over 2,500 people were safely evacuated from Hume Lake Christian Camps and surrounding area. All camp events were cancelled and only security personnel remained.
On September 5, the fire reached Kings Canyon National Park as it crossed the 85,800-acre (347 km$^2$) mark.
On September 7, a severely burned firefighter was airlifted to the Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.
On September 10, officials at Kings Canyon National Park began evacuating all visitors and employees from the Wilsonia and General Grant Grove areas. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for Dunlap, effective September 11.
On September 14, moisture and lower temperatures associated with the remnants of Hurricane Linda arrived in the southern Sierra. Light rain fell in Sierra/Sequoia National Forests and Kings Canyon, allowing firefighters to access the fire directly instead of preparing control lines at a distance.
On September 15, as the fire slowed and with favorable weather conditions, evacuation orders and warnings in Dunlap and Squaw Valley were lifted. By that time, 3,742 firefighters, 345 engines, 19 helicopters and 45 bulldozers had been deployed.

### October 1 onwards

The Rough Fire was declared 100 percent contained on November 6, and then declared controlled sometime later in the month. The total cost of the firefighting effort was estimated by the National Interagency Coordination Center at $120.93 million.$^{:9}$
The fire was, at the time it occurred, the thirteenth largest in recorded California history and the largest in the history of Fresno County. It no longer numbers among even the twenty largest fires in the state.

## Effects

The Rough Fire destroyed four structures. One of these was the Kings Canyon Lodge off Highway 180 in Kings Canyon National Park.
More than one hundred giant sequoia trees died in the Rough Fire.
The total number of evacuees reached more than 2,500 on August 20, following the fire's leap across the Kings River and Highway 180.
On September 11, Fresno health officials reported an unprecedented increase in hospital emergency department visits due to respiratory problems, and urged residents to avoid outdoor activities when the air is smoky.

## Area by ownership

As of October 6, 2015, the total burned area breaks down into:
| Owner | Acres | Km$^2$ |
| Sequoia National Forest | 82,573 | 334.2 |
| Sierra National Forest | 58,541 | 236.9 |
| Kings Canyon National Park | 9,413 | 38.1 |
| Private lands | 1,090 | 4.4 |
| State lands | 6 | 0.0 |
| Total | 151,623 | 613.6 |

## Growth and containment

Fire containment status Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained; :
| Date | Total area burned | Personnel | Containment |
| Jul 31 | ... | ... | ... |
| Aug 1 | ... | ... | ... |
| Aug 2 | 26 acres (11 ha) | ... | 0% |
| Aug 3 | 65 acres (26 ha) | ... | 0% |
| Aug 4 | ... | ... | ... |
| Aug 5 | 450 acres (182 ha) | ... | |
| Aug 6 | 500 acres (202 ha) | 274 personnel | |
| Aug 7 | 975 acres (395 ha) | ... | |
| Aug 8 | 1,200 acres (486 ha) | 321 personnel | 0% |
| Aug 9 | 3,770 acres (1,526 ha) | ... | |
| Aug 10 | 5,217 acres (2,111 ha) | ... | |
| Aug 11 | 6,815 acres (2,758 ha) | ... | |
| Aug 12 | 9,918 acres (4,014 ha) | ... | |
| Aug 13 | ... | ... | ... |
| Aug 14 | 13,267 acres (5,369 ha) | ... | |
| Aug 15 | ... | ... | ... |
| Aug 16 | 16,258 acres (6,579 ha) | ... | |
| Aug 17 | 20,978 acres (8,489 ha) | 1,064 personnel | 0% |
| Aug 18 | 23,600 acres (9,551 ha) | 1,098 personnel | 0% |
| Aug 19 | 30,901 acres (12,505 ha) | 1,141 personnel | 3% |
| Aug 20 | 32,414 acres (13,117 ha) | 1,501 personnel | 3% |
| Aug 21 | 39,400 acres (15,945 ha) | 1,605 personnel | 3% |
| Aug 22 | 47,079 acres (19,052 ha) | 1,484 personnel | 3% |
| Aug 23 | 47,396 acres (19,180 ha) | 2,275 personnel | 7% |
| Aug 24 | 49,440 acres (20,008 ha) | 2,126 personnel | 17% |
| Aug 25 | 51,794 acres (20,960 ha) | 1,984 personnel | 17% |
| Aug 26 | 55,900 acres (22,622 ha) | 2,152 personnel | 21% |
| Aug 27 | 55,989 acres (22,658 ha) | 2,051 personnel | 25% |
| Aug 28 | 60,238 acres (24,377 ha) | 2,033 personnel | 25% |
| Aug 29 | 61,316 acres (24,814 ha) | 2,068 personnel | 25% |
| Aug 30 | 66,542 acres (26,929 ha) | 2,121 personnel | 25% |
| Aug 31 | 72,300 acres (29,259 ha) | 2,121 personnel | 25% |
| Sep 1 | 77,287 acres (31,277 ha) | 2,121 personnel | 25% |
| Sep 2 | 79,973 acres (32,364 ha) | 1,901 personnel | 25% |
| Sep 3 | 81,549 acres (33,002 ha) | 1,901 personnel | 25% |
| Sep 4 | 83,464 acres (33,777 ha) | 1,902 personnel | 25% |
| Sep 5 | 85,894 acres (34,760 ha) | 2,038 personnel | 25% |
| Sep 6 | 85,894 acres (34,760 ha) | 1,967 personnel | 31% |
| Sep 7 | 95,183 acres (38,519 ha) | 1,940 personnel | 31% |
| Sep 8 | 97,884 acres (39,612 ha) | 1,960 personnel | 31% |
| Sep 9 | 103,244 acres (41,781 ha) | 1,900 personnel | 31% |
| Sep 10 | 110,134 acres (44,570 ha) | 1,900 personnel | 29% |
| Sep 11 | 119,069 acres (48,186 ha) | 2,229 personnel | 29% |
| Sep 12 | 128,796 acres (52,122 ha) | 2,570 personnel | 29% |
| Sep 13 | 129,877 acres (52,559 ha) | 2,961 personnel | 31% |
| Sep 14 | 138,053 acres (55,868 ha) | 3,073 personnel | 40% |
| Sep 15 | 139,133 acres (56,305 ha) | 3,741 personnel | 40% |
| Sep 16 | 140,760 acres (56,964 ha) | 3,742 personnel | 67% |
| Sep 17 | 141,036 acres (57,075 ha) | 2,267 personnel | 67% |
| Sep 18 | 141,201 acres (57,142 ha) | 1,411 personnel | 68% |
| Sep 19 | 141,491 acres (57,259 ha) | 1,493 personnel | 68% |
| Sep 20 | 141,599 acres (57,303 ha) | 1,381 personnel | 68% |
| Sep 21 | 141,950 acres (57,445 ha) | 1,495 personnel | 70% |
| Sep 22 | 142,629 acres (57,720 ha) | 1,510 personnel | 70% |
| Sep 23 | 143,559 acres (58,096 ha) | 1,334 personnel | 75% |
| Sep 24 | 143,559 acres (58,096 ha) | 1,070 personnel | 77% |
| Sep 25 | 143,559 acres (58,096 ha) | 935 personnel | 79% |
| Sep 26 | 150,876 acres (61,057 ha) | 787 personnel | 85% |
| Sep 27 | 150,876 acres (61,057 ha) | 654 personnel | 85% |
| Sep 28 | 151,493 acres (61,307 ha) | 651 personnel | 85% |
| Sep 29 | ... | ... | ... |
| Sep 30 | 151,623 acres (61,360 ha) | 344 personnel | 85% |
| Nov 6 | 151,623 acres (61,360 ha) | ... | 100% |