1

2008 Northern California Wildfires

Beginning June 20, 2008, lightning from a series of thunderstorms ignited hundreds of 

fires throughout Northern and Central California. By the time the last of the fires were 

finally contained in September, over 26 counties had been affected, with over a million

acres burned. PM2.5 FRM monitors throughout the Northern and Central regions of 

California exceeded the PM2.5 24-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) 

of 35 ug/m3.

Documentation for this natural event was prepared by ARB staff and posted on the ARB 

website at http://www.arb.ca.gov/desig/excevents/2008wildfires.htm for public review 

beginning July 20, 2009. An announcement of this posting was sent to all Air Districts 

as well as through the email listserv established for public interested in State 

designation activities. No comments were received.

The major Federal Wildland fires during this time period are shown in Table 1. The 

locations of these wildfires, as well as the affected PM2.5 monitors, are shown in the 

accompanying map in Figure 1. As can be noted, monitoring sites were affected by 

numerous fires, with variations in concentrations at the sites dependent on weather 

conditions and topography, as well as the relative strength and proximity of various fires 

to the monitoring sites on a given day.

TABLE 1 - Federal Wildland Fire Incidents in Northern California – June 20 to 

September 7, 2008

Map

Number

Incident 

Number Incident Name Latitude Longitude

Size 

(acres)

Start 

Date

Controlled 

Date

1

CA-SRF1057 Blue 41.5664 -123.8217 225 6/20/2008

2

CA-SRF1224 Blue 2 41.5664 -123.8217 9,728 6/20/2008

3

CA-SRF1123 Hell's Half 40.7511 -123.5956 15,146 6/20/2008

4

CA-HUU003384 Humboldt Complex 40.3994 -123.9494 1,325 6/20/2008

5

CA-SHF1041 LIME COMPLEX 40.5342 -123.4508 99,585 6/20/2008

6

CA-SRF1120 Mad Complex 40.3047 -123.5364 3,705 6/20/2008

7

CA-MEU004608

MEU Lightning 

Complex 39.5139 -123.2083 54,819 6/20/2008 11/4/2008

8

CA-CZU005581 TRABING 36.9319 -121.8089 630 6/20/2008 6/24/2008

9

CA-SRF1126

Ukonom-South 

Complex 41.3547 -123.5364 58,871 6/20/2008

10

CA-SHF001079 ALPS COMPLEX 40.9194 -123.2381 1,218 6/21/2008

11

CA-TNF1011

American River 

Complex 39.1439 -120.6725 20,541 6/21/2008
2

Map

Number

Incident 

Number Incident Name Latitude Longitude

Size 

(acres)

Start 

Date

Controlled 

Date

12

CA-LPF1649 Basin Complex 36.2103 -121.7394 162,818 6/21/2008

13

CA-BEU002390 BROWN 36.7622 -121.1750 3,870 6/21/2008 6/24/2008

14

CA-BTU007660

BTU Lightning 

Complex 39.8797 -121.4000 64,995 6/21/2008 10/3/2008

15

CA-PNF000539 Canyon Complex 39.7039 -121.2483 47,680 6/21/2008 10/1/2008

16

CA-LNF2713 CUB Complex 40.1808 -121.5622 19,718 6/21/2008

17

CA-KNF002970 Gould 41.2003 -123.0464 229 6/21/2008 7/2/2008

18

CA-SHF1057

Iron & Alps 

Complexes 40.7325 -123.0539 105,805 6/21/2008

19

CA-MNF000579

June ABCD 

Complex 39.5025 -122.2025 3,000 6/21/2008

20

CA-KNF3393 Klamath Theater 41.6600 -123.1850 192,038 6/21/2008

21

CA-LNF002729

LNF June 

Lightning Complex 40.3750 -120.6250 200 6/21/2008 7/3/2008

22

CA-MMU008048 Mariposa Complex 37.3450 -120.2142 2,500 6/21/2008 6/24/2008

23

CA-STF1063 North Mountain 37.8833 -119.8792 2,889 6/21/2008

24

CA-MMU008107 OLIVER 37.4511 -119.7533 2,789 6/21/2008

25

CA-SNF0715

OLIVER 

COMPLEX 37.4511 -119.7533 1,000 6/21/2008

26

CA-LNF002745 Peterson 40.9114 -121.3789 1,200 6/21/2008

27

CA-LNF002782 Peterson Complex 40.9000 -121.3333 7,842 6/21/2008

28

CA-LMU2725 Popcorn 40.9347 -121.3342 3,000 6/21/2008

29

CA-SHU004727

SHU LIGHTNING 

COMPLEX 40.5708 -122.3558 86,500 6/21/2008

30

CA-SNF718

SILVER 

COMPLEX 36.4392 -119.6772 1,161 6/21/2008

31

CA-KNF002975

Siskiyou / Blue 2 

Complex 41.5894 -123.5800 82,186 6/21/2008

32

CA-MNF645 SODA COMPLEX 39.3750 -122.9756 8,632 6/21/2008

33

CA-TGU4245

TGU LIGHTNING 

COMPLEX 40.1872 -122.2069 22,907 6/21/2008 7/6/2008

34

CA-WNP1095

Whiskeytown 

Complex 40.6000 -122.6333 6,420 6/21/2008

35

CA-LNU004790 WILD 38.3000 -122.2044 NR 6/21/2008 6/26/2008

36

CA-MNF000663

Yolla Bolly 

Complex 40.0703 -122.9653 NR 6/21/2008 9/15/2008

37

CA-TNF1015

Yuba River 

Complex 39.3664 -120.8206 4,254 6/21/2008

38

CA-LNF002776 Antelope 40.2519 -121.8664 600 6/22/2008

39 CA-SCU- HUMMINGBIRD 37.0353 -121.6553 794 6/22/2008
3

Map

Number

Incident 

Number Incident Name Latitude Longitude

Size 

(acres)

Start 

Date

Controlled 

Date

3094

40

CA-LNF002777 Mill 40.1503 -121.8475 1,500 6/22/2008

41

CA-LNF002781 Mill Complex 40.1503 -121.8475 2,100 6/22/2008

42

CA-CZU005708 Quarry 37.6847 -122.4033 300 6/22/2008 6/29/2008

43

CA-LNU004843 WALKER 39.0714 -122.4947 NR 6/22/2008 7/3/2008

44

CA-SCU003091 WHITEHURST 37.0100 -121.6692 200 6/22/2008

45

CA-BDF6944 CAJON 34.2281 -117.4228 100 6/23/2008

46

CA-LMU2759 Corral 40.8681 -120.8825 12,434 6/23/2008

47

CA-KRN19301 BENA 35.2725 -118.6128 120 6/27/2008 6/27/2008

48

CA-SQF001356 PIUTE 35.4308 -118.4011 37,026 6/28/2008 8/31/2008

49

CA-KNF003204 No Mans 41.7219 -123.5325 200 6/30/2008 7/6/2008

50

CA-LPF1778 Gap 34.4869 -119.7828 9,443 7/1/2008

51

CA-LMU002934 Dixie 40.8853 -121.0844 350 7/2/2008 7/4/2008

52

CA-KNP0020 Tehipite 36.9047 -118.7986 11,596 7/19/2008 12/10/2008

53

CA-TCU006881 FRENCH 37.9767 -120.4808 102 7/22/2008 7/26/2008

54

CA-KNF003624 Panther 41.5919 -123.4308 72,344 7/22/2008

55

CA-MMU009779 Telegraph 37.5675 -119.9969 34,091 7/25/2008

56

CA-TCU7033 Serpentine 37.8089 -120.3014 162 7/26/2008 7/28/2008

57

CA-PNF000784 RICH 40.0114 -121.1836 6,112 7/29/2008 12/1/2008

58

CA-BTU9395 Craig 39.5667 -121.3669 2,001 8/3/2008 8/22/2008

59

CA-INF000656 SHERWIN 37.6106 -118.9403 347 8/3/2008

60

CA-LPF002250

Santa Lucia

Lightning Complex 34.9678 -120.1297 244 8/15/2008 9/2/2008

61

CA-BNP0437 Jack 41.8267 -121.5594 6,900 8/17/2008

62

CA-KNF004096 Slinkard 41.8164 -123.1653 374 8/17/2008

63

CA-FKU009403 Avenal 35.9639 -120.1078 946 8/19/2008 8/20/2008

64

CA-SHU006888 Lake 40.6031 -122.3819 110 8/26/2008 8/30/2008

65

CA-SHU6922 Olinda 40.4122 -122.3450 186 8/27/2008 8/30/2008

66

CA-SHF1949 ELMORE 40.8450 -122.3633 343 9/7/2008

67

CA-SHF1944 GULCH 40.3667 -122.9350 2,847 9/7/2008
4

FIGURE 1 – Major Federal Wildfires and PM2.5 (FRM, FEM, and BAM) Monitoring 

Sites in California
5

The fires were scattered throughout Northern and Central California. Due to the 

number of fires, both large and small, the complex terrain and the locally-influenced, as 

well as regional, meteorological conditions, smoke impacts at the sites varied. 

Portola, in Plumas County in the Mountain Counties Air Basin, is at an elevation of 

approximately 4,800 feet and is surrounded by hilly terrain. The monitoring site, in a 

small valley, is located on the roof of a building at an elevation of 4,895 feet. 

The town of Quincy, approximately 27 miles west-northwest of Portola, is at an 

elevation of about 3,400 feet in hilly terrain. The monitoring site, in a small valley, is 

located on the roof of a building at an elevation of 3,422 feet. 

Redding, in northern Shasta County in the Sacramento Valley Air Basin, is almost 90 

miles northwest of Quincy and 115 miles northwest of Portola. Located between the 

Cascades and the Trinity Alps, the town has an approximate elevation of 560 feet. The 

monitoring site, in fairly level terrain, is located atop a building at an elevation of 488 

feet.

PM2.5 FRM data is available for the monitoring site at Portola from 2000 through 2008. 

Basic statistics for the monitor for this time period are shown in Table 2. The 

accompanying histogram illustrates the historically low levels of PM2.5 at this site, with 

96% of all concentrations occurring at or below the 24-hour NAAQS; 12% of those 

concentrations above the NAAQS occurred during this natural event, which accounted 

for 100% of the June/July exceedances from 2000-2008. 

TABLE 2 – Portola PM2.5 Concentration Statistics for Primary Monitor

All Data June/July

2000-2008 2000-2008 2000-2007 2008

Mean 12.61 8.05 6.03 23.38

Standard Error 0.36 0.98 0.23 7.44

Median 9 5.95 5 13.1

Mode 6 5 5 #N/A

Standard Deviation 10.70 11.87 2.59 30.68

Sample Variance 114.40 141.00 6.72 941.40

Kurtosis 12.45 48.97 2.96 3.81

Skewness 2.56 6.48 1.31 1.96

Range 112.5 112.5 16 112.5

Minimum 1 1 1 1

Maximum 113.5 113.5 17 113.5

Sum 10897.9 1175.5 778 397.5

Count 864 146 129 17

Largest(1) 113.5 113.5 17 113.5

Smallest(1) 1 1 1 1

Confidence Level(95.0%) 0.71 1.94 0.45 15.78
6

FIGURE 2 – Histogram of PM2.5 Concentrations from Portola Primary Monitor

Portola

Primary PM2.5 Monitor 2000-2008

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

0

102030405060708090

100110120130140150160170180190200

BIN

Frequency

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Frequency Cumulative %

96%

Mean

PM2.5 FRM data is available for the monitoring site at Quincy from 1999 through 2008. 

Basic statistics for the monitor for this time period are shown in Table 3. The 

accompanying histogram illustrates the historically low levels of PM2.5 at this site, with 

almost 98% of all concentrations occurring at or below the 24-hour NAAQS; 23% of 

those concentrations above the NAAQS occurred during this natural event, which 

accounted for 100% of the June/July exceedances from 1999-2008.

TABLE 3– Quincy PM2.5 Concentration Statistics for Primary Monitor

All Data June/July

1999-2008 1999-2008 1999-2007 2008

Mean 10.54 9.23 6.48 41.64

Standard Error 0.35 1.24 0.23 13.24

Median 7 6 6 16

Mode 6 5 5 16

Standard Deviation 10.88 16.65 3.01 49.54

Sample Variance 118.44 277.21 9.08 2454.08

Kurtosis 49.05 43.21 18.23 0.03

Skewness 5.57 6.35 3.34 1.16

Range 141.2 141.2 25 139.5

Minimum 1 1 1 2.7

Maximum 142.2 142.2 26 142.2

Sum 10171.5 1651.9 1069 582.9

Count 965 179 165 14

Largest(1) 142.2 142.2 26 142.2

Smallest(1) 1 1 1 2.7

Confidence Level(95.0%) 0.69 2.46 0.46 28.60
7

FIGURE 3 – Histogram of PM2.5 Concentrations from Quincy Primary Monitor

Quincy

Primary Monitor 1999-2008

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

0

102030405060708090

100110120130140150160170180190200

BIN

Frequency

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Frequency Cumulative %

Mean 98%

PM2.5 FRM data is available for the monitoring site at Redding from 1998 through 

2008. Basic statistics for the monitor for this time period are shown in Table 4. The 

accompanying histogram illustrates the historically low levels of PM2.5 at this site, with 

97% of all concentrations occurring at or below the 24-hour NAAQS; 29% of those 

concentrations above the NAAQS occurred during this natural event, which accounted 

for 100% of the June/July exceedances from 1999-2008.

TABLE 4 – Redding PM2.5 Concentration Statistics for Primary Monitor

All Data June/July

1998-2008 1999-2008 1999-2007 2008

Mean 9.46 11.09 5.98 54.59

Standard Error 0.51 2.52 0.34 19.61

Median 7 6 6 37.2

Mode 6 6 6 2.3

Standard Deviation 12.33 24.54 3.15 62.02

Sample Variance 152.02 602.08 9.93 3846.29

Kurtosis 105.82 40.17 5.83 2.72

Skewness 8.21 5.92 1.57 1.59

Range 199.2 199.2 20 197.9

Minimum 1 1 1 2.3

Maximum 200.2 200.2 21 200.2

Sum 5562.1 1053.9 508 545.9

Count 588 95 85 10

Largest(1) 200.2 200.2 21 200.2

Smallest(1) 1 1 1 2.3

Confidence Level(95.0%) 1.00 5.00 0.68 44.37
8

FIGURE 4 – Histogram of PM2.5 Concentrations from Redding Primary Monitor

Redding

PM2.5 1998-2008

0

50

100

150

200

250

0

102030405060708090

100110120130140150160170180190200

BIN

Frequency

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Frequency Cumulative %

97%

Mean

Speciation data is only available for the Portola monitor during this period. This data 

was collected every six days. Carbon data is not available, but was estimated by 

subtracting all other estimated components (ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, 

geological, and elemental) from the PM2.5 mass measured by the speciation sampler. 

Figure 5 shows the low levels of carbonaceous aerosols as well as the wood burning 

markers of levoglucosan, galactosan, and mannosan, on June 17, prior to the 

thunderstorms that spawned the wildfire. These low concentrations were not seen 

again until the end of July, after most of the fires had been contained. 
9

FIGURE 5 – Wood Burning Markers (Levoglucosan, Galactosan, Mannosan) at Portola 

During the Summer 2008 Wildfires

Wood Burning marker speciation at the Portola monitoring site has been collected since 

2007. The summer average (June, July, August) of 2007 and 2008, excluding those 

days affected by the wildfires, was at the level of detection. Figure 6 shows that

concentrations of the wood burning markers during the wildfires were extremely 

elevated. 

FIGURE 6 - Wood Burning Markers (Levoglucosan, Galactosan, Mannosan) at Portola 

During the Summer 2008 Wildfires Compared to Summer Averages