California has dry, windy, and often hot weather conditions from late spring through autumn that can produce moderate to devastating wildfires. At times, these wildfires are fanned or made worse from strong, dry winds, known as Diablo winds in the northern part of the state and Santa Ana winds to the south. Wildfires in California are growing more dangerous as people build in rural burn areas. 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.
The following is a list of notable wildfires of various sizes that have occurred in California.
Largest fires
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Since 1932, when accurate records started to be kept, these are the 20 largest wildfires in California, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). However, the largest wildfire in recorded California history was the Santiago Canyon Fire of 1889, which burned at least 300,000 acres (120,000Â ha) in southern California.
Note: means that the fire is currently burning. Total size and position in the list are subject to change.
Deadliest fires
A list of the 20 deadliest fires, according to CAL FIRE, can be found here:
- http://calfire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/Top20_Deadliest.pdf
The deadliest fire in California in recorded history was the 1933 Griffith Park Fire in Los Angeles, which killed 29 civilians who tried to fight and/or escape the fire. The second deadliest fire was the 1991 Oakland Hills fire, which killed 25 people. The third deadliest fire was the 2017 Tubbs Fire in Napa and Sonoma Counties, which killed 22 people in and around Santa Rosa.
Most destructive fires
A list of the 20 most destructive fires, according to CAL FIRE, can be found here: http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/Top20_Destruction.pdf
Pre-2000
- Santiago Canyon Fire (1889). Burned on the order of 310,000 acres (130,000 ha).
- Berkeley Fire (1923). Destroyed 640 structures, including 584 homes.
- Griffith Park Fire (1933). Official death toll was 29 firefighters, but may have killed up to 58.
- Rattlesnake Fire (1953). 15 firefighters were killed in this arsonist's fire.
- Bel Air Fire (1961). 484 homes were destroyed; 112 injuries.
- Laguna Fire (1970). 382 homes burned, killing eight people.
- Painted Cave Fire (1990). 1 death and 430 buildings burned in this arson fire near Santa Barbara.
- Oakland firestorm (1991). Killed 25 people. Destroyed 2,843 single-family homes and 437 multi-family units.
- Mount Vision Fire (1995). 45 homes destroyed. Cause: illegal campfire.
Post-2000
Starting in 2001, the National Interagency Fire Center began keeping more accurate records on the total fire acreage burned in each state.
Yearly statistics
A 2015 study addressed whether the increase in fire risk in California is attributable to climate change.
Notable fires
Note: †means fire is currently burning. Check primary sources for up-to-date statistics.
Areas of repeated ignition
In some parts of California, fires can recur in areas with histories of fires. Examples of this are in Oakland, where 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. Other examples being Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and Los Angeles County. In the case of Orange and San Bernardino, these two counties share a county 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 conflagration, 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.
On occasion, freak lightning strikes from thunderstorms may also spark wildfires in areas that have seen past ignition. Examples of this are the 1999 Megram Fire and the 2008 California wildfires.
See also
- List of wildfires
- California
- Climate change in California
- 2012â€"13 North American drought
References
External links
- Official California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) site
- CAL FIRE Blogspot: California Fire News
- California wildfires on the U.S. Forestry Incident Information System (InciWeb)
- Iawfonline.org: Infamous World Fires. Compiled by the International Association of Wildland Fire (revised May 15, 2008)
- Historical wildfire map 1950-2012
