California wildfires today? See smoke, air quality maps

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A wildfire, named the Dove Fire, has started in Tuolumne County near Yosemite National Park.
The fire has grown to over 220 acres with only 1% containment, leading to mandatory evacuation orders.
The cause of the Dove Fire is currently unknown and remains under investigation by CalFire.
California’s climate, vegetation, and seasonal winds create ideal conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread.

A wildfire has ignited in Tuolumne County near Sonora — the gateway to Yosemite National Park — and remains 1% contained early Monday, July 27, according to CalFire.

The Dove Fire has grown to more than 220 acres, prompting mandated evacuation orders for those in the area. The wildfire began off Highway 108 and Mill Villa Road.

“California is working side-by-side with our local and state partners to protect communities threatened by the Dove Fire,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “Securing this assistance helps ensure firefighters have the resources they need to respond aggressively, protect lives and property, and support impacted communities as evacuation efforts continue.”

What caused the California wildfires?

The cause of the wildfire remains unknown and is still under investigation, according to CalFire.

Shop Amazon for masks to protect from smoke

Why does California have so many wildfires?

California experiences more wildfires than most states because its climate, vegetation and weather create ideal conditions for fires to ignite and spread.

The state’s long, hot and dry summers leave grasses, shrubs and forests highly flammable. Seasonal winds, including Santa Ana winds in Southern California and Diablo winds in Northern California, can rapidly push flames across the landscape, making fires difficult to contain.

Many wildfires are also sparked by human activity, including unattended campfires, equipment use, vehicles, discarded cigarettes and power lines. Lightning also ignites fires, particularly during dry thunderstorms.

California wildfire smoke map

Air quality map

Air quality index levels

0–50 – Good: Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
51–100 – Moderate: Air quality is acceptable; however, there may be a concern for some people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
101–150 – Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: Members of sensitive groups (e.g., children, elderly, people with asthma or heart/lung conditions) may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
151–200 – Unhealthy: Everyone may begin to experience health effects; sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.
201–300 – Very Unhealthy: Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
301–500 – Hazardous: Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects. Avoid all outdoor activity.

See air quality in your area

See the live map below to track air quality in your area. Green indicates good air quality, while yellow is moderate and orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

How to prepare for wildfire evacuations

Cal Fire recommends maintaining at least 100 feet of defensible space around homes by clearing vegetation and other combustible materials that could fuel a wildfire.

The Department of Homeland Security also recommends keeping an emergency kit ready with important documents, medications, N95 respirator masks and other essential supplies in case residents need to evacuate quickly.

Officials encourage residents to sign up for local emergency notification systems and monitor evacuation updates as fire conditions can change rapidly.

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Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the nation as the Weather Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network and contributes to Texas Connect coverage across the state. She can be reached at baddison@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Facebook here