Firefighters in California have made significant strides in their efforts to control a wildfire near the San Francisco Bay Area.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported that as of Monday, the Corral Fire, which ignited on Saturday afternoon, was 75% contained. The fire has destroyed one home and injured two firefighters.

“Weather conditions have become more favorable, enabling crews to make headway in creating and enhancing control lines,” Cal Fire stated on its website, noting that 475 personnel were engaged in containment efforts.

The blaze has consumed over 5,706 hectares (14,100 acres), making it the largest fire of the year in California. Fire conditions typically worsen in the state as temperatures rise during spring and summer.

Historical Context and Underlying Factors

Cal Fire has recorded that since 2017, eight out of the ten largest fires in state history have occurred. Specialists attribute this increase to a combination of factors, which include prolonged droughts and heat intensified by climate change, dense forests, and growing populations in wildland-adjacent areas.

A significant number of these large fires occurred during the 2020 and 2021 fire seasons, during which massive blazes cloaked cities in smoke and ash, displacing numerous residents.

In contrast, the past two years have been relatively moderate. In 2023, fires across the state burned approximately 131,489 hectares (324,917 acres), a slight decrease from 134,095 hectares (331,358 acres) in 2022. Both 2020 and 2021 each saw single fires that burned around 404,700 hectares (one million acres).

The origin of the Corral Fire, located in San Joaquin County between the Bay Area and California's Central Valley, is still under investigation. The fire mainly affected lands owned by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a key center for federally funded nuclear weapons research.

Paul Rhien, a spokesperson for the laboratory, informed the Associated Press that the fire has not threatened the facility.

The fire was initially driven by strong winds, but officials say improving conditions have helped in containing the fire, leading to the lifting of previous evacuation orders.