Santa Ana winds in California expands fires and spreads smoke over hundreds of miles, as in this October 2007 satellite image

California has dry, windy and often hot weather conditions from spring through late autumn that can produce moderate to devastating wildfires. 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. Wildfires in California are growing more dangerous because of climate change[1] and because people build more 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.[2]

The following is a list of notable wildfires of various sizes that have occurred in California.

Largest wildfires [ edit ]

These are the 20 largest wildfires in California since 1932 (when accurate records started to be kept), according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).[3]

Note: Burned area and position in the list are subject to change.

Deadliest wildfires [ edit ]

A list of the 20 deadliest wildfires, according to CAL FIRE, can be found at "Top 20 Deadliest California Wildfire" (PDF).

Note: Number of deaths and position in the list are subject to change.

Most destructive wildfires [ edit ]

A list of the 20 most destructive wildfires, according to CAL FIRE, can be found here: http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/Top20_Destruction.pdf[9]

Note: Number of destroyed structures and position in the list are subject to change.

Satellite image of the 2003 Cedar Fire, the third-largest wildfire 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.[12]

Yearly statistics [ edit ]

A 2015 study[43] addressed whether the increase in fire risk in California is attributable to climate change.[44]

Notable fires [ edit ]

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. 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.[100][101] 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.[102]

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.[citation needed]

See also [ edit ]