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List of California wildfires#Yearly Stats

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{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Use American English|date=March 2024}}

File:1990- Most destructive California wildfires.svg

File:AERONET La Jolla.2007295.terra.250m.jpg 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 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.{{Cite journal|last1=Stephens|first1=Scott L.|last2=Martin|first2=Robert E.|last3=Clinton|first3=Nicholas E.|date=2007-11-15|title=Prehistoric fire area and emissions from California's forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112707004379|journal=Forest Ecology and Management|language=en|volume=251|issue=3|page=210|doi=10.1016/j.foreco.2007.06.005|issn=0378-1127|quote=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|access-date=2020-08-24|archive-date=2018-08-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812111636/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112707004379|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web|title=California Wildfire Emission Estimates {{!}} California Air Resources Board|url=https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/wildfire-emissions|access-date=2020-08-24|website=ww2.arb.ca.gov|archive-date=2020-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830060656/https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/wildfire-emissions|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Climate change: What role is it playing in the California fires |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0ewe4p9128o |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-09 |title=Intensifying climate whiplash set the stage for devastating California fires |url=https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-01-09/climate-whiplash-study-california-fires |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

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.{{cite web |last1=BORUNDA |first1=ALEJANDRA |last2=ELLIOTT |first2=KENNEDY |title=See how a warmer world primed California for large fires |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/11/climate-change-california-wildfire/ |website=National Geographic |date=15 November 2018 |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215154708/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/11/climate-change-california-wildfire/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|title=Twenty-first century California, USA, wildfires: fuel-dominated vs. wind-dominated fires|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334547958|access-date=2020-08-24|website=ResearchGate|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Historical patterns of wildfire ignition sources in California ecosystems|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328788068|access-date=2020-08-24|website=ResearchGate|language=en}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/real-estate/wildfires-are-growing-growing-more-costly-n106266|title=Wildfires are growing more costly|date=2014-05-14|newspaper=NBC News|access-date=2019-10-07|archive-date=2020-10-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013190300/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/real-estate/wildfires-are-growing-growing-more-costly-n106266|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite news | url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/23/california-fires-state-feds-agree-to-thin-millions-of-acres-of-forests/ | title=California fires: State, feds agree to thin millions of acres of forests - New plan would last 20 years, reshaping California's landscape | last=Rogers | first=Paul | newspaper=San Jose Mercury News | date=2020-08-23 | access-date=2020-09-11 | quote=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. | archive-date=2020-09-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913035721/https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/23/california-fires-state-feds-agree-to-thin-millions-of-acres-of-forests/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Weil |first1=Elizabeth |title=They Know How to Prevent Megafires. Why Won't Anybody Listen? |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/they-know-how-to-prevent-megafires-why-wont-anybody-listen |website=ProPublica |date=28 August 2020 |access-date=14 September 2020 |archive-date=13 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913234007/https://www.propublica.org/article/they-know-how-to-prevent-megafires-why-wont-anybody-listen |url-status=live }} 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. There are conservation issues that aren't allowing as many controlled burns necessary to lessen the damage for when a wildfire starts.{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Katherine Fung Senior |date=2025-01-09 |title=How red tape strangled California forest management before LA fires |url=https://www.newsweek.com/controlled-burns-california-forest-management-los-angeles-fires-2012492 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}

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.{{cite news|author1=Ryan Sabalow|author2=Phillip Reese|author3=Dale Kasler|agency=The Sacramento Bee|title=Destined to Burn: California races to predict which town could be next to burn|date=April 11, 2019|url=https://krcrtv.com/news/local/destined-to-burn-california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-to-burn|access-date=2019-11-17|via=KRCR News|archive-date=2019-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117210741/https://krcrtv.com/news/local/destined-to-burn-california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-to-burn|url-status=live}}

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.{{Cite news |last=Boxall |first=Bettina |date=January 5, 2020 |title=Human-caused ignitions spark California's worst wildfires but get little state focus |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/environment/story/2020-01-05/human-caused-ignitions-spark-california-worst-wildfires |url-status=live |access-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619094218/https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2020-01-05/human-caused-ignitions-spark-california-worst-wildfires |archive-date=June 19, 2023}}

A 2023 study found that these wildfires are affecting the California ecosystem and disrupting the habitats.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=California wildfires altering ecosystems, disrupting wildlife habitats: Study |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/extreme-wildfires-disrupting-wildlife-ecosystems-california-researchers/story?id=105034054 |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=ABC News |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last1=Ayars |first1=Jessalyn |last2=Kramer |first2=H. Anu |last3=Jones |first3=Gavin M. |date=2023-11-28 |title=The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |language=en |volume=120 |issue=48 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2312909120 |issn=0027-8424|doi-access=free |pmid=37983516 |pmc=10691208 }} It found that in the 2020 and 2021 fire seasons 58% of the area affected by wildfires occurred in those two seasons since 2012. 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."

Statistics

=Area burned per year=

File:Oakland firestorm 1.jpg]]

File:California fires October 2003.jpg

Starting in 2001, the National Interagency Fire Center began keeping more accurate records on the total fire acreage burned in each state.{{cite web|title=Statistics|url=https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/fireInfo_statistics.html|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=24 August 2015|archive-date=12 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812043933/http://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/fireInfo_statistics.html|url-status=live}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
Year

! Fires

! Acres

! Hectares

! Ref

20007,622{{convert|295,026|acres|ha|disp=table}}
20019,458{{convert|329,126|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2001|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2001_stats_summ/appendices.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=27 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627145328/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2001_stats_summ/appendices.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20028,328{{convert|969,890|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2002|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2002_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=27 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627145348/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2002_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=2002 Large Fires|url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/LF2002.pdf|website=CAL FIRE|date=February 11, 2003|access-date=December 10, 2017|archive-date=December 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208215137/http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/LF2002.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20039,116{{convert|1,020,460|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2003|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2003_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=27 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627145402/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2003_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Large Fires 2003|url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/LF2003final.pdf|website=CAL FIRE|access-date=17 October 2016|archive-date=25 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125181237/http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/LF2003final.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=68|title=Otay Fire|publisher=CAL FIRE|date=October 27, 2003|access-date=December 10, 2017|archive-date=February 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215174312/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=68|url-status=dead}}
20048,415{{convert|264,988|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2004|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2004_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=27 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627145428/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2004_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Large Fires 2004|url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/LARGEFIRE2004final.pdf|website=CAL FIRE|access-date=28 August 2015|archive-date=25 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125181214/http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/LARGEFIRE2004final.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20057,162{{convert|222,538|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2005|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2005_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=27 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627145435/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2005_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Large Fires 2005|url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentstatsevents_113.pdf|website=CAL FIRE|access-date=19 September 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193148/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentstatsevents_113.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20068,202{{convert|736,022|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2006|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2006_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=27 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627145524/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2006_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Large Fires 2006|url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentstatsevents_123.pdf|website=CAL FIRE|access-date=28 August 2015|archive-date=18 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118060633/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentstatsevents_123.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20079,093{{convert|1,520,362|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/11397/fires-acres-all-agencies-thru-2018.pdf|title=California Wildfires and Acres for all Jurisdictions|publisher=CalFire|date=August 24, 2020|access-date=September 11, 2020|archive-date=December 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228012125/https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/11397/fires-acres-all-agencies-thru-2018.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2007|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2007_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=19 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119040426/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2007_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20086,255{{convert|1,593,690|acres|ha|disp=table}}
20099,159{{convert|422,147|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2009|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2009_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=27 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627145539/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2009_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Large Fires 2009|url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentstatsevents_178.pdf|website=CAL FIRE|access-date=20 August 2015|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305023031/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentstatsevents_178.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20106,554{{convert|109,529|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2010|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2010_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=27 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627145550/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2010_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20117,989{{convert|168,545|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2011|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2011_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=13 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913121251/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2011_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Large Fires 2011|url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentstatsevents_214.pdf|website=CAL FIRE|access-date=21 August 2015|archive-date=24 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824154833/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentstatsevents_214.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20127,950{{convert|869,599|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2012|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2012_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628035338/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2012_statssumm/fires_acres.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20139,907{{convert|601,635|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2013|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2013_Statssumm/fires_acres13.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=11 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111004023/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2013_Statssumm/fires_acres13.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://calfire.ca.gov/downloads/redbooks/2013Redbook/2013_Redbook_Final.pdf|title=2013 Wildfire Statistics|author1=Ken Pimlott|author2=John Laird|author3=Edmond G. Brown Jr.|publisher=CAL FIRE|date=September 3, 2014|access-date=December 24, 2017|archive-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230085712/http://calfire.ca.gov/downloads/redbooks/2013Redbook/2013_Redbook_Final.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20147,865{{convert|625,540|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2014|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2014_Statssumm/fires_acres14.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628035328/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2014_Statssumm/fires_acres14.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://calfire.ca.gov/downloads/redbooks/2014Redbook/2014_Redbook_Complete.pdf|title=2014 Wildfire Activity Statistics|author=Ken Pimlott|publisher=CAL FIRE|date=2015|access-date=September 11, 2018|archive-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230085320/http://calfire.ca.gov/downloads/redbooks/2014Redbook/2014_Redbook_Complete.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20158,745{{convert|893,362|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2015|url=http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2015_Statssumm/fires_acres15.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=26 June 2016|archive-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628035324/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2015_Statssumm/fires_acres15.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20166,986{{convert|669,534|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2016|url=https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2016_Statssumm/fires_acres16.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=11 November 2017|archive-date=7 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707012921/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2016_Statssumm/fires_acres16.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://calfire.ca.gov/downloads/redbooks/2016_Redbook/2016_Redbook_FINAL.PDF|title=2016 Wildfire Activity Statistics|author=Ken Pimlott|publisher=CAL FIRE|date=2017|access-date=September 11, 2018|archive-date=September 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912022335/http://calfire.ca.gov/downloads/redbooks/2016_Redbook/2016_Redbook_FINAL.PDF|url-status=dead}}
20179,560{{convert|1,548,429|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2017/|title=2017 Incident Archive|date=2019|access-date=September 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904103202/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2017/|archive-date=September 4, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2017|url=https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2017_Statssumm/fires_acres17.pdf|website=National Interagency Fire Center|access-date=5 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628035319/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2017_statssumm/fires_acres17.pdf|archive-date=28 June 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
20188,527{{convert|1,975,086|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=2018 Incident Archive|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2018/|publisher=CAL FIRE|date=2020|access-date=September 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905140438/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2018/|archive-date=September 5, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/predictive/intelligence/NationalYTDbyStateandAgency.pdf|title=2018 National Year-to-Date Report on Fires and Acres Burned|publisher=NIFC|date=November 9, 2018|access-date=November 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230021023/https://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/predictive/intelligence/NationalYTDbyStateandAgency.pdf |archive-date=December 30, 2018|url-status=live}}
20197,860{{convert|259,823|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=2019 Incident Archive|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2019/|website=fire.ca.gov|access-date=January 2, 2022|archive-date=September 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910164905/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2019/|url-status=live}}
20209,639{{convert|4,397,809|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=2020 Incident Archive|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/|website=CAL FIRE|access-date=January 2, 2022|archive-date=June 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628081514/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/|url-status=live}}
20218,835{{convert|2,568,948|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=2021 Incident Archive|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2021/|website=CAL FIRE|access-date=January 2, 2022|archive-date=January 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115052141/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2021/|url-status=live}}
20227,490{{convert|362,455|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=2022 Incident Archive|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2022|website=CAL FIRE |access-date=June 7, 2023|archive-date=June 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609183455/https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2022|url-status=live}}
20237,127{{convert|324,917|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{cite web|title=2023 Incident Archive|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2023|website=CAL FIRE |access-date=August 5, 2024}}
20248,024{{convert|1,050,012|acres|ha|disp=table}}{{Cite web |title= 2024 Incident Archive |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024 |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=www.fire.ca.gov |publisher=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire)}}
2025
{{sort|9998|2000-23 Mean}}8,243{{convert|974,894|acres|ha|disp=table}}
{{sort|9999|2000-23 Median}}8,265{{convert|647,537|acres|ha|disp=table}}

{{notelist}}

Largest wildfires

{{Asof|lc=n|2024|10|2|df=US}}, the 20 largest wildfires according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have been:{{Cite web|title=Top 20 Largest California Wildfires|url=https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/our-impact/fire-statistics/top-20-largest-ca-wildfires.pdf?rev=097f901c128347149e2614f2fca4f546&hash=27DDE83DFEF9A69E67C73765892A2B75|date=2 October 2024}}

{{Table alignment}}

class="wikitable sortable col1center col7right col8right"
! width="100" | Fire Name (Cause)

! County

! Acres (Hectares)

! Start date

! data-sort-type=number | Structures

! data-sort-type=number | Deaths

1.

|August Complex (Lightning)

|Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake, & Colusa

|{{convert|1,032,648|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2020}}

|935

|1

2.

|Dixie (Powerlines)

|Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Shasta & Tehama

|{{convert|963,309|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|July 2021}}

|1,311

|1

3.

|Mendocino Complex (Human Related)

|Colusa, Lake, Mendocino, & Glenn

|{{convert|459,123|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|July 2018}}

|280

|1

4.

|Park (Arson)

|Butte, Plumas, Shasta, & Tehama

|{{convert|429,603|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|July 2024}}

|709

|0

5.

|SCU Lightning Complex (Lightning)

|Stanislaus, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, & San Joaquin

|{{convert|396,625|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2020}}

|225

|0

6.

|Creek (Lightning)

|Fresno & Madera

|{{convert|379,895|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|September 2020}}

|858

|0

7.

|LNU Lightning Complex (Lightning/Arson)

|Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Lake, & Colusa

|{{convert|363,220|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2020}}

|1,491

|6

8.

|North Complex (Lightning)

|Butte, Plumas & Yuba

|{{convert|318,935|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2020}}

|2,352

|15

9.

|Thomas (Powerlines)

|Ventura & Santa Barbara

|{{convert|281,893|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|December 2017}}

|1,060

|2

10.

|Cedar (Human Related)

|San Diego

|{{convert|273,246|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 2003}}

|2,820

|15

11.

|Rush (Lightning)

|Lassen

|{{convert|271,911|acres|ha|abbr=values}} ({{convert|+43,666|acres|ha|abbr=values}} in Nevada)

|{{dts|August 2012}}

|0

|0

12.

|Rim (Human Related)

|Tuolumne

|{{convert|257,314|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2013}}

|112

|0

13.

|Zaca (Human Related)

|Santa Barbara

|{{convert|240,207|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|July 2007}}

|1

|0

14.

|Carr (Human Related)

|Shasta & Trinity

|{{convert|229,651|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|July 2018}}

|1,614

|8

15.

|Monument (Lightning)

|Trinity

|{{convert|223,124|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2021}}

|28

|0

16.

|Caldor (Bullet)

|Alpine, Amador, & El Dorado

|{{convert|221,835|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2021}}

|1,311

|1

17.

|Matilija (Undetermined)

|Ventura

|{{convert|220,000|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|September 1932}}

|0

|0

18.

|River Complex (Lightning)

|Siskiyou & Trinity

|{{convert|199,359|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|July 2021}}

|122

|0

19.

|Witch (Powerlines)

|San Diego

|{{convert|197,990|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 2007}}

|1,650

|2

20.

|Klamath Theatre Complex (Lightning)

|Siskiyou

|{{convert|192,038|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|June 2008}}

|0

|2

Deadliest wildfires

{{Asof|lc=n|2025|1|28|df=US}}, the 20 deadliest wildfires according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have been:{{Cite web|title=Top 20 Deadliest California Wildfires|url=https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/our-impact/fire-statistics/top20_deadliest.pdf?rev=367e369fc1ff45769597eb0cdc7cad62&hash=34C2F991846F32BCD17978B690D0DB6D|date=28 January 2025}}

{{Table alignment}}

class="wikitable sortable col1center col7right col8right"
! width="100" | Fire Name (Cause)

! County

! Acres (Hectares)

! Start date

! data-sort-type=number | Structures

! data-sort-type=number | Deaths

1.

|Camp (Powerlines)

|Butte

|{{convert|153,336|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|November 2018}}

|18,804

|85

2.

|Griffith Park (Unknown)

|Los Angeles

|{{convert|47|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 1933}}

|0

|29

3.

|Tunnel (Rekindle)

|Alameda

|{{convert|1,600|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 1991}}

|2,900

|25

4.

|Tubbs (Electrical)

|Napa & Sonoma

|{{convert|36,807|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 2017}}

|5,643

|22

5.

|Eaton ( faulty power lines of Southern California Edison

)

|Los Angeles

|{{convert|14,021|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|January 2025}}

|9,418

|18

6.

|North Complex (Lightning)

|Butte, Plumas & Yuba

|{{convert|318,935|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2020}}

|2,352

|15

7.

|Cedar (Human Related)

|San Diego

|{{convert|273,246|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 2003}}

|2,820

|15

8.

|Rattlesnake (Arson)

|Glenn

|{{convert|1,340|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|July 1953}}

|0

|15

9.

|Palisades (possible reignition of Lachman Fire)

|Los Angeles

|{{convert|23,448|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|January 2025}}

|6,837

|12

10.

|Loop (Unknown)

|Los Angeles

|{{convert|2,028|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|November 1966}}

|0

|12

11.

|Hauser Creek (Human Related)

|San Diego

|{{convert|13,145|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 1943}}

|0

|11

12.

|Inaja (Human Related)

|San Diego

|{{convert|43,904|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|November 1956}}

|0

|11

13.

|Iron Alps Complex (Lightning)

|Trinity

|{{convert|105,855|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2008}}

|10

|10

14.

|Redwood Valley (Power Lines)

|Mendocino

|{{convert|36,523|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 2017}}

|544

|9

15.

|Harris (Undetermined)

|San Diego

|{{convert|90,440|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 2007}}

|548

|8

16.

|Canyon (Unknown)

|Los Angeles

|{{convert|22,197|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 1968}}

|0

|8

17.

|Carr (Human Related)

|Shasta & Trinity

|{{convert|229,651|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|July 2018}}

|1,614

|8

18.

|LNU Lightning Complex (Lightning/Arson)

|Napa, Sonoma, Yolo, Stanislaus & Lake

|{{convert|363,220|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2020}}

|1,491

|6

19.

|Atlas (Power Lines)

|Napa & Solano

|{{convert|51,624|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 2017}}

|781

|6

20.

|Old (Human Related)

|San Bernardino

|{{convert|91,281|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 2003}}

|1,003

|6

Most destructive wildfires

{{Asof|lc=n|2025|1|28|df=US}}, the 20 most destructive wildfires according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have been:{{Cite web|title=Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires|url=https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/our-impact/fire-statistics/top20_destruction.pdf?rev=057c3d89da86403290fcbcef630fc692&hash=E7D05B4DCE9C3C0CE857221695C54FEF|date=28 January 2025}}

{{Table alignment}}

class="wikitable sortable col1center col7right col8right"
! width="100" | Fire Name (Cause)

! County

! Acres (Hectares)

! Start date

! data-sort-type=number | Structures

! data-sort-type=number | Deaths

1.

|Camp (Power Lines)

|Butte

|{{convert|153,336|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|November 2018}}

|18,804

|85

2.

|Eaton (Under Investigation)

|Los Angeles

|{{convert|14,021|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|January 2025}}

|9,418

|18

3.

|Palisades (Under Investigation)

|Los Angeles

|{{convert|23,707|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|January 2025}}

|6,837

|12

4.

|Tubbs (Electrical)

|Napa & Sonoma

|{{convert|36,807|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 2017}}

|5,646

|22

5.

|Tunnel (Rekindle)

|Alameda

|{{convert|1,600|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 1991}}

|2,900

|25

6.

|Cedar (Human Related)

|San Diego

|{{convert|273,246|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 2003}}

|2,820

|15

7.

|North Complex (Lightning)

|Butte, Plumas, & Yuba

|{{convert|318,935|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2020}}

|2,352

|15

8.

|Valley (Electrical)

|Lake, Napa & Sonoma

|{{convert|76,067|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|September 2015}}

|1,955

|4

9.

|Witch (Powerlines)

|San Diego

|{{convert|197,990|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 2007}}

|1,650

|2

10.Woolsey (Electrical)

|Ventura

|{{convert|96,949|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|November 2018}}

|1,643

|3

11.

|Carr (Human Related)

|Shasta & Trinity

|{{convert|229,651|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|July 2018}}

|1,614

|8

12.

|Glass (Undetermined)

|Napa & Sonoma

|{{convert|67,484|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|September 2020}}

|1,520

|0

13.

|LNU Lightning Complex (Lightning/Arson)

|Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Lake, & Colusa

|{{convert|363,220|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2020}}

|1,491

|6

14.

|CZU Lightning Complex (Lightning)

|Santa Cruz & San Mateo

|{{convert|86,509|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2020}}

|1,490

|1

15.

|Nuns (Powerline)

|Sonoma

|{{convert|54,382|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 2017}}

|1,355

|3

16.

|Dixie (Powerline)

|Butte, Plumas, Lassen, & Tehama

|{{convert|963,309|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|July 2021}}

|1,311

|1

17.

|Thomas (Powerline)

|Ventura & Santa Barbara

|{{convert|281,893|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|December 2017}}

|1,063

|23

18.

|Caldor (Bullet)

|Alpine, Amador, & El Dorado

|{{convert|221,835|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|August 2021}}

|1,003

|1

19.

|Old (Human Related)

|San Bernardino

|{{convert|91,281|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 2003}}

|1,003

|6

20.

|Jones (Undetermined)

|Shasta

|{{convert|26,200|acres|ha|abbr=values}}

|{{dts|October 1999}}

|954

|1

Areas of repeated ignition

File:Summer 2008 California wildfires on July 9.jpg 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.{{cite web|url=http://montclairoak.com/tag/oakland-hills-fire/|title=Oakland Hills Fire|website=Today in Montclair, 94611|date=6 March 2012|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213201253/https://montclairoak.com/tag/oakland-hills-fire/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=History of Fires in the Oakland hills|url=http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca1/groups/fire/documents/webcontent/oak042168.pdf|website=oaklandnet.com|access-date=2014-03-24|archive-date=2014-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329005514/http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca1/groups/fire/documents/webcontent/oak042168.pdf|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite report|title=A 100 Year History of Wildfires Near Chino Hills State Park|date=August 2012|publisher=Hills For Everyone|url=http://www.hillsforeveryone.org/projects/fire-files/A-100-Year-History-of-Wildfires-Near-CHSP.pdf|access-date=2014-03-24|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329012854/http://www.hillsforeveryone.org/projects/fire-files/A-100-Year-History-of-Wildfires-Near-CHSP.pdf|archive-date=2014-03-29}}

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|date = December 2017}} as well as the LNU and SCU Lightning Complex fires (both in 2020).

See also

:* List of California floods

:* List of California tornadoes

:* List of California hurricanes

:* List of Arizona wildfires

:* List of New Mexico wildfires

:* List of Oregon wildfires

{{clear}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category|Wildfires in California}}

  • [http://www.fire.ca.gov/ Official California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) site]

{{California wildfires}}

{{California wildfires by size}}

{{California wildfires by deaths}}

{{Wildfires in the United States}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:California Wildfires list of}}

Wildfires

Wildfire

Category:Lists of wildfires in the United States