fbpx
Wikipedia

List of California wildfires

This is a partial and incomplete list of California wildfires. 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 million acres (1.8 million hectares) of forest and shrubland burned annually.[1] 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.[2] During the 2020 wildfire season alone, over 8,100 fires contributed to the burning of nearly 4.5 million acres of land.

Santa Ana winds in California expand fires and spread smoke over hundreds of miles, as in this October 2007 satellite image
The Rim Fire consumed more than 250,000 acres (100,000 ha) of forest near Yosemite National Park, in 2013

Wildfires in California are growing more dangerous because of the accumulation of wood fuel in forests, higher population and greater electricity transmission and distribution lines.[3][4][5] 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.[6] 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.[7][8] 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.[7]

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.[9]

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.[10]

A 2023 study found that these wildfires are affecting the California ecosystem and disrupting the habitats.[11][12] It found that in the 2020 and 2021 fire seasons 58% of the area affected by wildfires occurred in those two seasons since 2012.[13][14] 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 edit

Area burned per year edit

 
Remains of houses destroyed in the Oakland firestorm of 1991
 
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 7,622 295,026 119,393 [18]
2001 9,458 329,126 133,193 [19]
2002 8,328 969,890 392,500 [20][21]
2003 9,116 1,020,460 412,970 [22][23][24]
2004 8,415 264,988 107,237 [25][26]
2005 7,162 222,538 90,058 [27][28]
2006 8,202 736,022 297,858 [29][30]
2007 9,093 1,520,362 615,269 [18][31]
2008 6,255 1,593,690 644,940 [18]
2009 9,159 422,147 170,837 [32][33]
2010 6,554 109,529 44,325 [34]
2011 7,989 168,545 68,208 [35][36]
2012 7,950 869,599 351,914 [37]
2013 9,907 601,635 243,473 [38][39]
2014 7,865 625,540 253,150 [40][41]
2015 8,745 893,362 361,531 [42]
2016 6,986 669,534 270,951 [43][44]
2017 9,560 1,548,429 626,627 [45][46]
2018 8,527 1,975,086 799,289 [47][48]
2019 7,860 259,823 105,147 [49]
2020 9,639 4,397,809 1,779,730 [50]
2021 8,835 2,568,948 1,039,616 [51]
2022 7,490 362,455 146,680 [52]
2000-22 Mean 8,292 974,980 394,560
2000-22 Median 8,328 669,534 270,951

A 2015 study[53] addressed whether the increase in fire risk in California is attributable to climate change.[54]

Largest wildfires edit

The 20 largest wildfires according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.[55]

Name County Acres Hectares Start date Structures Deaths Notes
1. August Complex Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Tehama, Trinity, Shasta 1,032,648 417,898 August 2020 935 1
2. Dixie Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta, Tehama 963,309 389,837 July 2021 1,329 1 Largest single source wildfire in California history[56]
3. Mendocino Complex Mendocino, Lake, Colusa, Glenn 459,123 185,800 July 2018 280 1
4. SCU Lightning Complex Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Merced, Stanislaus 396,624 160,508 August 2020 222 0
5. Creek Fresno, Madera 379,895 153,738 September 2020 856 0
6. LNU Lightning Complex Colusa, Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo 363,220 146,990 August 2020 1,491 6
7. North Complex Plumas, Butte 318,935 129,068 August 2020 2,352 15
8. Santiago Canyon Orange, Riverside, San Diego 300,000 120,000 September 1889 0 0 The fire dates before 1932, when reliable fire records began.
9. Thomas Ventura, Santa Barbara 281,893 114,078 December 2017 1,063 23 Fatalities (2 direct, 21 indirect) attributed to the fire include 1 firefighter and 1 civilian directly, 22 deaths in later mudslides, with 1 never recovered.[57]
10. Cedar San Diego 273,246 110,579 October 2003 2,820 15
11. Rush Lassen 271,911 110,038 August 2012 0 0 This fire burned an additional 43,666 acres (17,671.0 ha) in Nevada, for a total of 315,577 acres (127,709.5 ha).[58][59]
12. Rim Tuolumne 257,314 104,131 August 2013 112 0
13. Zaca Santa Barbara 240,207 97,208 July 2007 1 0
14. Carr Shasta, Trinity 229,651 92,936 July 2018 1,614 8
15. Monument Trinity 223,124 90,295 July 2021 50 0
16. Caldor El Dorado, Amador, Alpine 221,835 89,773 August 2021 1,003 1
17. Matilija Ventura 220,000 89,000 September 1932 0 0
18. River Complex Siskiyou, Trinity 199,343 80,671 July 2021 122 0
19. Witch San Diego 197,990 80,120 October 2007 1,650 2
20. Klamath Theater Complex Siskiyou 192,038 77,715 June 2008 0 2

Deadliest wildfires edit

The 20 deadliest wildfires according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.[60]

Name County Acres Hectares Start date Structures Deaths Notes
1. Camp[61][62][63] Butte 153,336 62,050 November 2018 18,804 85 51 identified from Paradise, 11 from Magalia, 7 from Concow, 1 from Chico, remaining not publicly identified as of February 2019
2. Griffith Park Los Angeles 47 19 October 1933 0 29 Deaths were RFC workers fighting the fire
3. Tunnel Alameda 1,600 650 October 1991 2,900 25
4. Thomas Ventura, Santa Barbara 281,893 114,078 December 2017 1,063 23 Fatalities (2 direct, 21 indirect) attributed to the fire include 1 firefighter and 1 civilian directly, 22 deaths in later mudslides, with 1 never recovered.[57]
5. Tubbs Napa, Sonoma 36,807 14,895 October 2017 5,643 22
6. North Complex Plumas, Butte 318,935 129,068 August 2020 2,352 15
7. Cedar San Diego 273,246 110,579 October 2003 2,820 15
8. Rattlesnake Glenn 1,340 540 July 1953 0 15 All deaths were firefighters trying to outrun the fire
9. Loop Los Angeles 2,028 821 November 1966 0 12 All deaths were members of the El Cariso Hotshots
10 Hauser Creek San Diego 13,145 5,320 October 1943 0 11
11. Inaja San Diego 43,904 17,767 November 1956 0 11
12. Iron Alps Complex Trinity 105,855 42,838 August 2008 10 10
13. Redwood Valley Mendocino 36,523 14,780 October 2017 544 9
14. Harris San Diego 90,440 36,600 October 2007 548 8
15. Canyon Los Angeles 22,197 8,983 August 1968 0 8
16. Carr Shasta, Trinity 229,651 92,936 July 2018 1,614 8
17. LNU Lightning Complex Colusa, Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo 363,220 146,990 August 2020 1,491 6
18. Atlas Napa, Solano 51,624 20,891 October 2017 781 6
19. Old San Bernardino 91,281 36,940 October 2003 1,003 6
20. Decker Riverside 1,425 577 August 1959 1 6

Most destructive wildfires edit

The 20 most destructive wildfires according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.[64]

Name County Acres Hectares Start date Structures Deaths Notes
1. Camp[61][62][63] Butte 153,336 62,050 November 2018 18,804 85 Town of Paradise destroyed[65]
2. Tubbs Napa, Sonoma 36,807 14,895 October 2017 5,643 22
3. Tunnel Alameda 1,600 650 October 1991 2,900 25
4. Cedar San Diego 273,246 110,579 October 2003 2,820 15
5. North Complex Plumas, Butte 318,935 129,068 August 2020 2,352 15 Towns of Berry Creek and Feather Falls mostly destroyed[66][67]
6. Valley Lake, Napa, Sonoma 76,067 30,783 September 2015 1,955 4
7. Witch San Diego 197,990 80,120 October 2007 1,650 2
8. Woolsey Ventura, Los Angeles 96,949 39,234 November 2018 1,643 3
9. Carr Shasta, Trinity 229,651 92,936 July 2018 1,614 8
10. Glass Napa, Sonoma 67,484 27,310 September 2020 1,520 0
11. LNU Lightning Complex Colusa, Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo 363,220 146,990 August 2020 1,491 6
12. CZU Lightning Complex Santa Cruz, San Mateo 86,509 35,009 August 2020 1,490 1
13. Nuns Sonoma 54,382 22,008 October 2017 1,355 3
14. Dixie Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta, Tehama 963,309 389,837 July 2021 1,329 1 Town of Greenville mostly destroyed
15. Thomas Ventura, Santa Barbara 281,893 114,078 December 2017 1,063 23 2 direct, 22 indirect deaths were caused by the Montecito mudslides
16. Caldor El Dorado, Amador, Alpine 221,835 89,773 August 2021 1,003 1 Town of Grizzly Flats mostly destroyed
17. Old San Bernardino 91,281 36,940 October 2003 1,003 6
18. Butte Amador, Calaveras 70,868 28,679 September 2015 965 2
19. Jones Shasta 26,200 10,600 October 1999 954 1
20. August Complex Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Tehama, Trinity, Shasta 1,032,649 417,898 August 2020 935 1

Areas of repeated ignition edit

 
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 can recur in areas with histories of fires. 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.[68][69] 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.[70]

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.[citation needed], as well as both the LNU and SCU Lightning Complex fires of 2020.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Stephens, Scott L.; Martin, Robert E.; Clinton, Nicholas E. (2007-11-15). "Prehistoric fire area and emissions from California's forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands". Forest Ecology and Management. 251 (3): 210. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2007.06.005. ISSN 0378-1127. from the original on 2018-08-12. Retrieved 2020-08-24. area burned annually in California varied from 1,814,614 to 4,838,293 ha (excluding the desert region in Southeastern California) during the prehistoric period. With the land area of California equaling 40,396,822 ha (CCDB, 2003), this results in 4.5–12.0% of the state's lands burning annually
  2. ^ "California Wildfire Emission Estimates | California Air Resources Board". ww2.arb.ca.gov. from the original on 2020-08-30. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  3. ^ BORUNDA, ALEJANDRA; ELLIOTT, KENNEDY (15 November 2018). . National Geographic. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Twenty-first century California, USA, wildfires: fuel-dominated vs. wind-dominated fires". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  5. ^ "Historical patterns of wildfire ignition sources in California ecosystems". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  6. ^ "Wildfires are growing more costly". NBC News. 2014-05-14. from the original on 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  7. ^ a b Rogers, Paul (2020-08-23). "California fires: State, feds agree to thin millions of acres of forests - New plan would last 20 years, reshaping California's landscape". San Jose Mercury News. from the original on 2020-09-13. Retrieved 2020-09-11. Before the Gold Rush in 1849, large parts of California burned every few decades. Lightning fires burned for months, and native tribes burned the land, clearing out dead vegetation. ... Stephens, the UC fire scientist, estimates that before the Gold Rush, roughly 4.5 million acres a year in California burned. By the 1950s and 1960s, that was down to about 250,000 acres a year.
  8. ^ Weil, Elizabeth (28 August 2020). "They Know How to Prevent Megafires. Why Won't Anybody Listen?". ProPublica. from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  9. ^ Ryan Sabalow; Phillip Reese; Dale Kasler (April 11, 2019). "Destined to Burn: California races to predict which town could be next to burn". The Sacramento Bee. from the original on 2019-11-17. Retrieved 2019-11-17 – via KRCR News.
  10. ^ Boxall, Bettina (January 5, 2020). "Human-caused ignitions spark California's worst wildfires but get little state focus". Los Angeles Times. from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  11. ^ "California wildfires altering ecosystems, disrupting wildlife habitats: Study". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  12. ^ Ayars, Jessalyn; Kramer, H. Anu; Jones, Gavin M. (2023-11-28). "The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 120 (48). doi:10.1073/pnas.2312909120. ISSN 0027-8424.
  13. ^ "California wildfires altering ecosystems, disrupting wildlife habitats: Study". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  14. ^ Ayars, Jessalyn; Kramer, H. Anu; Jones, Gavin M. (2023-11-28). "The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 120 (48). doi:10.1073/pnas.2312909120. ISSN 0027-8424.
  15. ^ News, A. B. C. "California wildfires altering ecosystems, disrupting wildlife habitats: Study". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-11-22. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  16. ^ Ayars, Jessalyn; Kramer, H. Anu; Jones, Gavin M. (2023-11-28). "The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 120 (48). doi:10.1073/pnas.2312909120. ISSN 0027-8424.
  17. ^ "Statistics". National Interagency Fire Center. from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  18. ^ a b c (PDF). CalFire. August 24, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  19. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  20. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  21. ^ (PDF). CAL FIRE. February 11, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  22. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  23. ^ (PDF). CAL FIRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  24. ^ . CAL FIRE. October 27, 2003. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  25. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  26. ^ (PDF). CAL FIRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  27. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  28. ^ (PDF). CAL FIRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  29. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  30. ^ (PDF). CAL FIRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  31. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  32. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  33. ^ (PDF). CAL FIRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  34. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  35. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  36. ^ (PDF). CAL FIRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  37. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  38. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  39. ^ Ken Pimlott; John Laird; Edmond G. Brown Jr. (September 3, 2014). (PDF). CAL FIRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 30, 2016. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  40. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  41. ^ Ken Pimlott (2015). (PDF). CAL FIRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 30, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  42. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  43. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  44. ^ Ken Pimlott (2017). (PDF). CAL FIRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  45. ^ "2017 Incident Archive". 2019. from the original on September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  46. ^ (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  47. ^ "2018 Incident Archive". CAL FIRE. 2020. from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  48. ^ "2018 National Year-to-Date Report on Fires and Acres Burned" (PDF). NIFC. November 9, 2018. (PDF) from the original on December 30, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  49. ^ "2019 Incident Archive". fire.ca.gov. from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  50. ^ "2020 Incident Archive". fire.ca.gov. from the original on June 28, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  51. ^ "2021 Incident Archive". fire.ca.gov. from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  52. ^ "2022 Incident Archive". fire.ca.gov. from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  53. ^ "Was the 2014 wildfire season in California affected by climate change? - Wildfire Today". wildfiretoday.com. 9 November 2015. from the original on 14 May 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  54. ^ Yoon et al. (2015) Extreme Fire Season In California: A Glimpse Into The Future? https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283425168_EXTREME_FIRE_SEASON_IN_CALIFORNIA_A_GLIMPSE_INTO_THE_FUTURE#full-text 2016-02-01 at the Wayback Machine
  55. ^ (PDF). fire.ca.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  56. ^ Bermel, Colby (2021-08-06). "Dixie Fire becomes largest single wildfire in California history". Politico. from the original on 2021-11-24. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  57. ^ a b "The Latest: California wildfire now largest in state history". apnews.com. 23 December 2017. from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  58. ^ . Inciweb. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  59. ^ . CAL FIRE. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  60. ^ "Top 20 Deadliest California Wildfires" (PDF). fire.ca.gov. (PDF) from the original on 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  61. ^ a b "California's "Camp Fire" death toll jumps to 48 as thousands of firefighters battle blazes". CBS News. 2018-11-13. from the original on 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  62. ^ a b Moleski, Vincent (17 February 2019). "Camp Fire death count drops to 85 while missing list drops to 2 following arrest". Sacramento Bee. from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  63. ^ a b "Camp fire death toll rises to 86 after man dies of burn injuries". Los Angeles Times. 2019-08-09. from the original on 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
  64. ^ (PDF). fire.ca.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  65. ^ "Wildfire destroys entire town as massive blazes tear through California". CBS News. 2018-11-09. from the original on 2018-11-18. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  66. ^ Dale, Kasler; Stanton, Sam (18 September 2020). "'Unstoppable.' How the Bear Fire erupted into a deadly disaster for tiny Berry Creek". Sac Bee. from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  67. ^ La Ganga, Maria L. (22 September 2020). "People in this California town didn't have much. Then fire took it away". LA Times. from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  68. ^ "Oakland Hills Fire". Today in Montclair, 94611. 6 March 2012. from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  69. ^ "History of Fires in the Oakland hills" (PDF). oaklandnet.com. (PDF) from the original on 2014-03-29. Retrieved 2014-03-24.
  70. ^ (PDF) (Report). Hills For Everyone. August 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-29. Retrieved 2014-03-24.

External links edit

  • Official California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) site

list, california, wildfires, california, wildfire, redirects, here, current, fires, california, 2023, california, wildfires, this, partial, incomplete, list, california, wildfires, california, windy, often, weather, conditions, from, spring, through, late, aut. California wildfire redirects here For the current fires in California see 2023 California wildfires This is a partial and incomplete list of California wildfires 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 million acres 1 8 million hectares of forest and shrubland burned annually 1 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 2 During the 2020 wildfire season alone over 8 100 fires contributed to the burning of nearly 4 5 million acres of land Santa Ana winds in California expand fires and spread smoke over hundreds of miles as in this October 2007 satellite imageThe Rim Fire consumed more than 250 000 acres 100 000 ha of forest near Yosemite National Park in 2013Wildfires in California are growing more dangerous because of the accumulation of wood fuel in forests higher population and greater electricity transmission and distribution lines 3 4 5 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 6 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 km 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 km of land burned 7 8 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 7 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 9 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 10 A 2023 study found that these wildfires are affecting the California ecosystem and disrupting the habitats 11 12 It found that in the 2020 and 2021 fire seasons 58 of the area affected by wildfires occurred in those two seasons since 2012 13 14 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 Contents 1 Statistics 1 1 Area burned per year 2 Largest wildfires 3 Deadliest wildfires 4 Most destructive wildfires 5 Areas of repeated ignition 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksStatistics editGraphs are unavailable due to technical issues There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki wiki Area burned per year edit nbsp Remains of houses destroyed in the Oakland firestorm of 1991 nbsp Satellite image from October 2003 including Cedar Fire one of the largest wildfires in California historyStarting 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 Ref2000 7 622 295 026 119 393 18 2001 9 458 329 126 133 193 19 2002 8 328 969 890 392 500 20 21 2003 9 116 1 020 460 412 970 22 23 24 2004 8 415 264 988 107 237 25 26 2005 7 162 222 538 90 058 27 28 2006 8 202 736 022 297 858 29 30 2007 9 093 1 520 362 615 269 18 31 2008 6 255 1 593 690 644 940 18 2009 9 159 422 147 170 837 32 33 2010 6 554 109 529 44 325 34 2011 7 989 168 545 68 208 35 36 2012 7 950 869 599 351 914 37 2013 9 907 601 635 243 473 38 39 2014 7 865 625 540 253 150 40 41 2015 8 745 893 362 361 531 42 2016 6 986 669 534 270 951 43 44 2017 9 560 1 548 429 626 627 45 46 2018 8 527 1 975 086 799 289 47 48 2019 7 860 259 823 105 147 49 2020 9 639 4 397 809 1 779 730 50 2021 8 835 2 568 948 1 039 616 51 2022 7 490 362 455 146 680 52 2000 22 Mean 8 292 974 980 394 5602000 22 Median 8 328 669 534 270 951 A 2015 study 53 addressed whether the increase in fire risk in California is attributable to climate change 54 Largest wildfires editThe 20 largest wildfires according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 55 Name County Acres Hectares Start date Structures Deaths Notes1 August Complex Glenn Lake Mendocino Tehama Trinity Shasta 1 032 648 417 898 August 2020 935 12 Dixie Butte Lassen Plumas Shasta Tehama 963 309 389 837 July 2021 1 329 1 Largest single source wildfire in California history 56 3 Mendocino Complex Mendocino Lake Colusa Glenn 459 123 185 800 July 2018 280 14 SCU Lightning Complex Santa Clara Alameda Contra Costa San Joaquin Merced Stanislaus 396 624 160 508 August 2020 222 05 Creek Fresno Madera 379 895 153 738 September 2020 856 06 LNU Lightning Complex Colusa Lake Napa Sonoma Solano Yolo 363 220 146 990 August 2020 1 491 67 North Complex Plumas Butte 318 935 129 068 August 2020 2 352 158 Santiago Canyon Orange Riverside San Diego 300 000 120 000 September 1889 0 0 The fire dates before 1932 when reliable fire records began 9 Thomas Ventura Santa Barbara 281 893 114 078 December 2017 1 063 23 Fatalities 2 direct 21 indirect attributed to the fire include 1 firefighter and 1 civilian directly 22 deaths in later mudslides with 1 never recovered 57 10 Cedar San Diego 273 246 110 579 October 2003 2 820 1511 Rush Lassen 271 911 110 038 August 2012 0 0 This fire burned an additional 43 666 acres 17 671 0 ha in Nevada for a total of 315 577 acres 127 709 5 ha 58 59 12 Rim Tuolumne 257 314 104 131 August 2013 112 013 Zaca Santa Barbara 240 207 97 208 July 2007 1 014 Carr Shasta Trinity 229 651 92 936 July 2018 1 614 815 Monument Trinity 223 124 90 295 July 2021 50 016 Caldor El Dorado Amador Alpine 221 835 89 773 August 2021 1 003 117 Matilija Ventura 220 000 89 000 September 1932 0 018 River Complex Siskiyou Trinity 199 343 80 671 July 2021 122 019 Witch San Diego 197 990 80 120 October 2007 1 650 220 Klamath Theater Complex Siskiyou 192 038 77 715 June 2008 0 2Deadliest wildfires editThe 20 deadliest wildfires according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 60 Name County Acres Hectares Start date Structures Deaths Notes1 Camp 61 62 63 Butte 153 336 62 050 November 2018 18 804 85 51 identified from Paradise 11 from Magalia 7 from Concow 1 from Chico remaining not publicly identified as of February 20192 Griffith Park Los Angeles 47 19 October 1933 0 29 Deaths were RFC workers fighting the fire3 Tunnel Alameda 1 600 650 October 1991 2 900 254 Thomas Ventura Santa Barbara 281 893 114 078 December 2017 1 063 23 Fatalities 2 direct 21 indirect attributed to the fire include 1 firefighter and 1 civilian directly 22 deaths in later mudslides with 1 never recovered 57 5 Tubbs Napa Sonoma 36 807 14 895 October 2017 5 643 226 North Complex Plumas Butte 318 935 129 068 August 2020 2 352 157 Cedar San Diego 273 246 110 579 October 2003 2 820 158 Rattlesnake Glenn 1 340 540 July 1953 0 15 All deaths were firefighters trying to outrun the fire9 Loop Los Angeles 2 028 821 November 1966 0 12 All deaths were members of the El Cariso Hotshots10 Hauser Creek San Diego 13 145 5 320 October 1943 0 1111 Inaja San Diego 43 904 17 767 November 1956 0 1112 Iron Alps Complex Trinity 105 855 42 838 August 2008 10 1013 Redwood Valley Mendocino 36 523 14 780 October 2017 544 914 Harris San Diego 90 440 36 600 October 2007 548 815 Canyon Los Angeles 22 197 8 983 August 1968 0 816 Carr Shasta Trinity 229 651 92 936 July 2018 1 614 817 LNU Lightning Complex Colusa Lake Napa Sonoma Solano Yolo 363 220 146 990 August 2020 1 491 618 Atlas Napa Solano 51 624 20 891 October 2017 781 619 Old San Bernardino 91 281 36 940 October 2003 1 003 620 Decker Riverside 1 425 577 August 1959 1 6Most destructive wildfires editThe 20 most destructive wildfires according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 64 Name County Acres Hectares Start date Structures Deaths Notes1 Camp 61 62 63 Butte 153 336 62 050 November 2018 18 804 85 Town of Paradise destroyed 65 2 Tubbs Napa Sonoma 36 807 14 895 October 2017 5 643 223 Tunnel Alameda 1 600 650 October 1991 2 900 254 Cedar San Diego 273 246 110 579 October 2003 2 820 155 North Complex Plumas Butte 318 935 129 068 August 2020 2 352 15 Towns of Berry Creek and Feather Falls mostly destroyed 66 67 6 Valley Lake Napa Sonoma 76 067 30 783 September 2015 1 955 47 Witch San Diego 197 990 80 120 October 2007 1 650 28 Woolsey Ventura Los Angeles 96 949 39 234 November 2018 1 643 39 Carr Shasta Trinity 229 651 92 936 July 2018 1 614 810 Glass Napa Sonoma 67 484 27 310 September 2020 1 520 011 LNU Lightning Complex Colusa Lake Napa Sonoma Solano Yolo 363 220 146 990 August 2020 1 491 612 CZU Lightning Complex Santa Cruz San Mateo 86 509 35 009 August 2020 1 490 113 Nuns Sonoma 54 382 22 008 October 2017 1 355 314 Dixie Butte Lassen Plumas Shasta Tehama 963 309 389 837 July 2021 1 329 1 Town of Greenville mostly destroyed15 Thomas Ventura Santa Barbara 281 893 114 078 December 2017 1 063 23 2 direct 22 indirect deaths were caused by the Montecito mudslides16 Caldor El Dorado Amador Alpine 221 835 89 773 August 2021 1 003 1 Town of Grizzly Flats mostly destroyed17 Old San Bernardino 91 281 36 940 October 2003 1 003 618 Butte Amador Calaveras 70 868 28 679 September 2015 965 219 Jones Shasta 26 200 10 600 October 1999 954 120 August Complex Glenn Lake Mendocino Tehama Trinity Shasta 1 032 649 417 898 August 2020 935 1Areas of repeated ignition edit nbsp 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 monthsIn some parts of California fires can recur in areas with histories of fires 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 68 69 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 70 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 citation needed as well as both the LNU and SCU Lightning Complex fires of 2020 See also editList of wildfires 2012 13 North American drought Wildfires in the United States Climate change in CaliforniaReferences edit Stephens Scott L Martin Robert E Clinton Nicholas E 2007 11 15 Prehistoric fire area and emissions from California s forests woodlands shrublands and grasslands Forest Ecology and Management 251 3 210 doi 10 1016 j foreco 2007 06 005 ISSN 0378 1127 Archived from the original on 2018 08 12 Retrieved 2020 08 24 area burned annually in California varied from 1 814 614 to 4 838 293 ha excluding the desert region in Southeastern California during the prehistoric period With the land area of California equaling 40 396 822 ha CCDB 2003 this results in 4 5 12 0 of the state s lands burning annually California Wildfire Emission Estimates California Air Resources Board ww2 arb ca gov Archived from the original on 2020 08 30 Retrieved 2020 08 24 BORUNDA ALEJANDRA ELLIOTT KENNEDY 15 November 2018 See how a warmer world primed California for large fires National Geographic Archived from the original on 15 December 2018 Retrieved 22 November 2018 Twenty first century California USA wildfires fuel dominated vs wind dominated fires ResearchGate Retrieved 2020 08 24 Historical patterns of wildfire ignition sources in California ecosystems ResearchGate Retrieved 2020 08 24 Wildfires are growing more costly NBC News 2014 05 14 Archived from the original on 2020 10 13 Retrieved 2019 10 07 a b Rogers Paul 2020 08 23 California fires State feds agree to thin millions of acres of forests New plan would last 20 years reshaping California s landscape San Jose Mercury News Archived from the original on 2020 09 13 Retrieved 2020 09 11 Before the Gold Rush in 1849 large parts of California burned every few decades Lightning fires burned for months and native tribes burned the land clearing out dead vegetation Stephens the UC fire scientist estimates that before the Gold Rush roughly 4 5 million acres a year in California burned By the 1950s and 1960s that was down to about 250 000 acres a year Weil Elizabeth 28 August 2020 They Know How to Prevent Megafires Why Won t Anybody Listen ProPublica Archived from the original on 13 September 2020 Retrieved 14 September 2020 Ryan Sabalow Phillip Reese Dale Kasler April 11 2019 Destined to Burn California races to predict which town could be next to burn The Sacramento Bee Archived from the original on 2019 11 17 Retrieved 2019 11 17 via KRCR News Boxall Bettina January 5 2020 Human caused ignitions spark California s worst wildfires but get little state focus Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on June 19 2023 Retrieved July 21 2023 California wildfires altering ecosystems disrupting wildlife habitats Study ABC News Retrieved 2023 11 22 Ayars Jessalyn Kramer H Anu Jones Gavin M 2023 11 28 The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120 48 doi 10 1073 pnas 2312909120 ISSN 0027 8424 California wildfires altering ecosystems disrupting wildlife habitats Study ABC News Retrieved 2023 11 22 Ayars Jessalyn Kramer H Anu Jones Gavin M 2023 11 28 The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120 48 doi 10 1073 pnas 2312909120 ISSN 0027 8424 News A B C California wildfires altering ecosystems disrupting wildlife habitats Study ABC News Retrieved 2023 11 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a last has generic name help Ayars Jessalyn Kramer H Anu Jones Gavin M 2023 11 28 The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120 48 doi 10 1073 pnas 2312909120 ISSN 0027 8424 Statistics National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original on 12 August 2015 Retrieved 24 August 2015 a b c California Wildfires and Acres for all Jurisdictions PDF CalFire August 24 2020 Archived from the original PDF on December 28 2022 Retrieved September 11 2020 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2001 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 27 June 2019 Retrieved 12 August 2015 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2002 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 27 June 2019 Retrieved 12 August 2015 2002 Large Fires PDF CAL FIRE February 11 2003 Archived from the original PDF on December 8 2017 Retrieved December 10 2017 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2003 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 27 June 2019 Retrieved 12 August 2015 Large Fires 2003 PDF CAL FIRE Archived from the original PDF on 25 November 2018 Retrieved 17 October 2016 Otay Fire CAL FIRE October 27 2003 Archived from the original on February 15 2018 Retrieved December 10 2017 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2004 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 27 June 2019 Retrieved 12 August 2015 Large Fires 2004 PDF CAL FIRE Archived from the original PDF on 25 November 2018 Retrieved 28 August 2015 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2005 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 27 June 2019 Retrieved 12 August 2015 Large Fires 2005 PDF CAL FIRE Archived from the original PDF on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 19 September 2015 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2006 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 27 June 2019 Retrieved 12 August 2015 Large Fires 2006 PDF CAL FIRE Archived from the original PDF on 18 November 2016 Retrieved 28 August 2015 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2007 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 19 November 2018 Retrieved 12 August 2015 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2009 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 27 June 2019 Retrieved 12 August 2015 Large Fires 2009 PDF CAL FIRE Archived from the original PDF on 5 March 2016 Retrieved 20 August 2015 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2010 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 27 June 2019 Retrieved 12 August 2015 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2011 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 13 September 2018 Retrieved 12 August 2015 Large Fires 2011 PDF CAL FIRE Archived from the original PDF on 24 August 2016 Retrieved 21 August 2015 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2012 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 28 June 2018 Retrieved 12 August 2015 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2013 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 11 January 2019 Retrieved 12 August 2015 Ken Pimlott John Laird Edmond G Brown Jr September 3 2014 2013 Wildfire Statistics PDF CAL FIRE Archived from the original PDF on December 30 2016 Retrieved December 24 2017 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2014 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 28 June 2018 Retrieved 12 August 2015 Ken Pimlott 2015 2014 Wildfire Activity Statistics PDF CAL FIRE Archived from the original PDF on December 30 2016 Retrieved September 11 2018 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2015 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 28 June 2018 Retrieved 26 June 2016 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2016 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 7 July 2017 Retrieved 11 November 2017 Ken Pimlott 2017 2016 Wildfire Activity Statistics PDF CAL FIRE Archived from the original PDF on September 12 2018 Retrieved September 11 2018 2017 Incident Archive 2019 Archived from the original on September 4 2020 Retrieved September 11 2020 National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2017 PDF National Interagency Fire Center Archived from the original PDF on 28 June 2018 Retrieved 5 June 2018 2018 Incident Archive CAL FIRE 2020 Archived from the original on September 5 2020 Retrieved September 9 2020 2018 National Year to Date Report on Fires and Acres Burned PDF NIFC November 9 2018 Archived PDF from the original on December 30 2018 Retrieved November 9 2018 2019 Incident Archive fire ca gov Archived from the original on September 10 2020 Retrieved January 2 2022 2020 Incident Archive fire ca gov Archived from the original on June 28 2020 Retrieved January 2 2022 2021 Incident Archive fire ca gov Archived from the original on January 15 2022 Retrieved January 2 2022 2022 Incident Archive fire ca gov Archived from the original on June 9 2023 Retrieved June 7 2023 Was the 2014 wildfire season in California affected by climate change Wildfire Today wildfiretoday com 9 November 2015 Archived from the original on 14 May 2016 Retrieved 6 April 2018 Yoon et al 2015 Extreme Fire Season In California A Glimpse Into The Future https www researchgate net publication 283425168 EXTREME FIRE SEASON IN CALIFORNIA A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE full text Archived 2016 02 01 at the Wayback Machine Top 20 Largest California Wildfires PDF fire ca gov Archived from the original PDF on 2021 01 15 Retrieved 2021 03 14 Bermel Colby 2021 08 06 Dixie Fire becomes largest single wildfire in California history Politico Archived from the original on 2021 11 24 Retrieved 2021 11 12 a b The Latest California wildfire now largest in state history apnews com 23 December 2017 Archived from the original on 23 December 2017 Retrieved 6 April 2018 Rush Fire Inciweb Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2013 09 01 Rush Fire CAL FIRE Archived from the original on 16 November 2017 Retrieved 25 August 2015 Top 20 Deadliest California Wildfires PDF fire ca gov Archived PDF from the original on 2021 03 18 Retrieved 2021 03 14 a b California s Camp Fire death toll jumps to 48 as thousands of firefighters battle blazes CBS News 2018 11 13 Archived from the original on 2018 11 14 Retrieved 2018 11 14 a b Moleski Vincent 17 February 2019 Camp Fire death count drops to 85 while missing list drops to 2 following arrest Sacramento Bee Archived from the original on 17 July 2019 Retrieved 13 June 2019 a b Camp fire death toll rises to 86 after man dies of burn injuries Los Angeles Times 2019 08 09 Archived from the original on 2019 08 09 Retrieved 2019 08 09 Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires PDF fire ca gov Archived from the original PDF on 2022 09 28 Retrieved 2021 03 14 Wildfire destroys entire town as massive blazes tear through California CBS News 2018 11 09 Archived from the original on 2018 11 18 Retrieved 2018 11 10 Dale Kasler Stanton Sam 18 September 2020 Unstoppable How the Bear Fire erupted into a deadly disaster for tiny Berry Creek Sac Bee Archived from the original on 24 September 2020 Retrieved 25 September 2020 La Ganga Maria L 22 September 2020 People in this California town didn t have much Then fire took it away LA Times Archived from the original on 24 September 2020 Retrieved 25 September 2020 Oakland Hills Fire Today in Montclair 94611 6 March 2012 Archived from the original on 13 December 2017 Retrieved 6 April 2018 History of Fires in the Oakland hills PDF oaklandnet com Archived PDF from the original on 2014 03 29 Retrieved 2014 03 24 A 100 Year History of Wildfires Near Chino Hills State Park PDF Report Hills For Everyone August 2012 Archived from the original PDF on 2014 03 29 Retrieved 2014 03 24 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wildfires in California Official California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection CAL FIRE site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of California wildfires amp oldid 1188164226, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.