List of California wildfires

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English

File:1990- Most destructive California wildfires.svg
About 75% of California's 20 most destructive wildfires—measured in terms of structures burned—have occurred since 2015.[1]
File:AERONET La Jolla.2007295.terra.250m.jpg
Santa Ana winds in California expand fires and spread smoke over hundreds of miles, as in this October 2007 satellite image.
File:The Rim Fire in the Stanislaus National Forest near in California began on Aug. 17, 2013-0004.jpg
The Rim Fire consumed more than 250,000 acres (100,000 ha) of forest near Yosemite National Park, in 2013.

This is a partial and incomplete list of wildfires in the US state of California. California has dry, windy, and often hot weather conditions from spring through late autumn that can produce moderate to severe wildfires. Pre-1800, when the area was much more forested and the ecology much more resilient, 4.4-11.9 million acres (1.8-4.8 million hectares) of forest and shrubland burned annually.[2] California land area totals 99,813,760 or roughly 100 million acres, so since 2000, the area that burned annually has ranged between 90,000 acres, or 0.09%, and 1,590,000 acres, or 1.59% of the total land of California.[3] During the 2020 wildfire season alone, over 8,100 fires contributed to the burning of nearly 4.5 million acres of land.

Causes

Climate change in California has lengthened the fire season and made it more extreme from the middle of the 20th century.[4][5]

Since the early 2010s, wildfires in California have grown more dangerous because of the accumulation of wood fuel in forests, higher population, and aging and often poorly maintained electricity transmission and distribution lines, particularly in areas serviced by Pacific Gas and Electric.[6][7][8] United States taxpayers pay about US$3 billion a year to fight wildfires, and big fires can lead to billions of dollars in property losses.[9] At times, these wildfires are fanned or made worse by strong, dry winds, known as Diablo winds when they occur in the northern part of the state and Santa Ana winds when they occur in the south. However, from a historical perspective, it has been estimated that prior to 1850, about 4.5 million acres (17,000 km2) burned yearly, in fires that lasted for months, with wildfire activity peaking roughly every 30 years, when up to 11.8 million acres (47,753 km3) of land burned.[10][11] The much larger wildfire seasons in the past can be attributed to the policy of Native Californians regularly setting controlled burns and allowing natural fires to run their course, which prevented devastating wildfires from overrunning the state.[10] There are conservation issues that aren't allowing as many controlled burns necessary to lessen the damage for when a wildfire starts.[12]

Effects

More than 350,000 people in California live in towns sited completely within zones deemed to be at very high risk of fire. In total, more than 2.7 million people live in "very high fire hazard severity zones", which also include areas at lesser risk.[13]

On lands under CAL FIRE's jurisdictional protection (i.e. not federal or local responsibility areas), the majority of wildfire ignitions since 1980 have been caused by humans. The four most common ignition sources for wildfires on CAL FIRE-protected lands are, in order: equipment use, powerlines, arson, and lightning.[14]

A 2023 study found that these wildfires are affecting the California ecosystem and disrupting the habitats.[15][16] It found that in the 2020 and 2021 fire seasons 58% of the area affected by wildfires occurred in those two seasons since 2012.[15][16] These two fires destroyed 30% of the habitat of 50 species as well as 100 species that had 10% of their habitats burn. 5-14% of the species' habitats burned at a "high severity."[15][16]

Statistics

Area burned per year

File:Oakland firestorm 1.jpg
Remains of houses destroyed in the Oakland firestorm of 1991
File:California fires October 2003.jpg
Satellite image from October, 2003 including Cedar Fire, one of the largest wildfires in California history

Starting in 2001, the National Interagency Fire Center began keeping more accurate records on the total fire acreage burned in each state.[17]

Year Fires Acres Hectares Ref
2000 7,622 Script error: No such module "convert". [18]
2001 9,458 Script error: No such module "convert". [19]
2002 8,328 Script error: No such module "convert". [20][21]
2003 9,116 Script error: No such module "convert". [22][23][24]
2004 8,415 Script error: No such module "convert". [25][26]
2005 7,162 Script error: No such module "convert". [27][28]
2006 8,202 Script error: No such module "convert". [29][30]
2007 9,093 Script error: No such module "convert". [18][31]
2008 6,255 Script error: No such module "convert". [18]
2009 9,159 Script error: No such module "convert". [32][33]
2010 6,554 Script error: No such module "convert". [34]
2011 7,989 Script error: No such module "convert". [35][36]
2012 7,950 Script error: No such module "convert". [37]
2013 9,907 Script error: No such module "convert". [38][39]
2014 7,865 Script error: No such module "convert". [40][41]
2015 8,745 Script error: No such module "convert". [42]
2016 6,986 Script error: No such module "convert". [43][44]
2017 9,560 Script error: No such module "convert". [45][46]
2018 8,527 Script error: No such module "convert". [47][48]
2019 7,860 Script error: No such module "convert". [49]
2020 9,639 Script error: No such module "convert". [50]
2021 8,835 Script error: No such module "convert". [51]
2022 7,490 Script error: No such module "convert". [52]
2023 7,127 Script error: No such module "convert". [53]
2024 8,024 Script error: No such module "convert". [54]
2025
Script error: No such module "sort". 8,243 Script error: No such module "convert".
Script error: No such module "sort". 8,265 Script error: No such module "convert".

Template:Notelist

Largest wildfires

Template:Asof, the 20 largest wildfires according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have been:[55]

Template:Table alignment

Fire Name (Cause) County Acres (Hectares) Start date Structures Deaths
1. August Complex (Lightning) Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake, & Colusa Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 935 1
2. Dixie (Powerlines) Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Shasta & Tehama Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,311 1
3. Mendocino Complex (Human Related) Colusa, Lake, Mendocino, & Glenn Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 280 1
4. Park (Arson) Butte, Plumas, Shasta, & Tehama Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 709 0
5. SCU Lightning Complex (Lightning) Stanislaus, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, & San Joaquin Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 225 0
6. Creek (Undetermined) Fresno & Madera Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 858 0
7. LNU Lightning Complex (Lightning/Arson) Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Lake, & Colusa Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,491 6
8. North Complex (Lightning) Butte, Plumas & Yuba Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 2,352 15
9. Thomas (Powerlines) Ventura & Santa Barbara Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,060 2
10. Cedar (Human Related) San Diego Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 2,820 15
11. Rush (Lightning) Lassen Script error: No such module "convert". (Script error: No such module "convert". in Nevada) Template:Dts 0 0
12. Rim (Campfire) Tuolumne Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 112 0
13. Zaca (Equipment) Santa Barbara Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1 0
14. Carr (Vehicle) Shasta & Trinity Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,614 8
15. Monument (Lightning) Trinity Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 28 0
16. Caldor (Bullet) Alpine, Amador, & El Dorado Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,311 1
17. Matilija (Undetermined) Ventura Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 0 0
18. River Complex (Lightning) Siskiyou & Trinity Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 122 0
19. Witch (Powerlines) San Diego Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,650 2
20. Klamath Theater Complex (Lightning) Siskiyou Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 0 2

Deadliest wildfires

Template:Asof, the 20 deadliest wildfires according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have been:[56]

Template:Table alignment

Fire Name (Cause) County Acres (Hectares) Start date Structures Deaths
1. Camp (Powerlines) Butte Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 18,804 85
2. Griffith Park (Unknown) Los Angeles Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 0 29
3. Tunnel (Rekindle) Alameda Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 2,900 25
4. Tubbs (Electrical) Napa & Sonoma Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 5,643 22
5. Eaton (Undetermined) Los Angeles Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 9,418 18
6. North Complex (Lightning) Butte, Plumas & Yuba Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 2,352 15
7. Cedar (Signal fire) San Diego Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 2,820 15
8. Rattlesnake (Arson) Glenn Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 0 15
9. Palisades (Undetermined) Los Angeles Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 6,837 12
10. Loop (Unknown) Los Angeles Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 0 12
11. Hauser Creek (Human Related) San Diego Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 0 11
12. Inaja (Human Related) San Diego Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 0 11
13. Iron Alps Complex (Lightning) Trinity Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 10 10
14. Redwood Valley (Power Lines) Mendocino Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 544 9
15. Harris (Undetermined) San Diego Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 548 8
16. Canyon (Unknown) Los Angeles Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 0 8
17. Carr (Vehicle) Shasta & Trinity Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,614 8
18. LNU Lightning Complex (Lightning/Arson) Napa, Sonoma, Yolo, Stanislaus & Lake Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,491 6
19. Atlas (Power Lines) Napa & Solano Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 781 6
20. Old (Arson) San Bernardino Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,003 6

Most destructive wildfires

Template:Asof, the 20 most destructive wildfires according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have been:[57]

Template:Table alignment

Fire Name (Cause) County Acres (Hectares) Start date Structures Deaths
1. Camp (Power Lines) Butte Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 18,804 85
2. Eaton (Under Investigation) Los Angeles Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 9,418 18
3. Palisades (Under Investigation) Los Angeles Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 6,837 12
4. Tubbs (Electrical) Napa & Sonoma Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 5,646 22
5. Tunnel (Rekindle) Alameda Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 2,900 25
6. Cedar (Signal fire) San Diego Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 2,820 15
7. North Complex (Lightning) Butte, Plumas, & Yuba Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 2,352 15
8. Valley (Electrical) Lake, Napa & Sonoma Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,955 4
9. Witch (Powerlines) San Diego Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,650 2
10. Woolsey (Electrical) Ventura Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,643 3
11. Carr (Vehicle) Shasta & Trinity Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,614 8
12. Glass (Undetermined) Napa & Sonoma Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,520 0
13. LNU Lightning Complex (Lightning/Arson) Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Lake, & Colusa Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,491 6
14. CZU Lightning Complex (Lightning) Santa Cruz & San Mateo Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,490 1
15. Nuns (Powerline) Sonoma Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,355 3
16. Dixie (Powerline) Butte, Plumas, Lassen, & Tehama Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,311 1
17. Thomas (Powerline) Ventura & Santa Barbara Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,063 23
18. Caldor (Bullet) Alpine, Amador, & El Dorado Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,003 1
19. Old (Arson) San Bernardino Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 1,003 6
20. Jones (Undetermined) Shasta Script error: No such module "convert". Template:Dts 954 1

Areas of repeated ignition

File:Summer 2008 California wildfires on July 9.jpg
The summer 2008 wildfires were widespread and deadly, with at least 3,596 wildfires of various origins burning throughout Northern and Central California, for around four months

In some parts of California, fires recur with some regularity. In Oakland, for example, fires of various size and ignition occurred in 1923, 1931, 1933, 1937, 1946, 1955, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1970, 1980, 1990, 1991, 1995, 2002, and 2008.[58][59] Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and Los Angeles County are other examples. Orange and San Bernardino counties share a border that runs north to south through the Chino Hills State Park, with the park's landscape ranging from large green coastal sage scrub, grassland, and woodland, to areas of brown sparsely dense vegetation made drier by droughts or hot summers. The valley's grass and barren land can become easily susceptible to dry spells and drought, therefore making it a prime spot for brush fires and conflagrations, many of which have occurred since 1914. Hills and canyons have seen brush or wildfires in 1914, the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and into today.[60]

On occasion, lightning strikes from thunderstorms may also spark wildfires in areas that have seen past ignition. Examples of this are the 1999 Megram Fire, the 2008 California wildfires,Script error: No such module "Unsubst". as well as the LNU and SCU Lightning Complex fires (both in 2020).

See also

References

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  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Sister project

Template:California wildfires Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:California wildfires by deaths Template:Wildfires in the United States Template:Authority control

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