Top 20 Largest, Deadliest Wildfires In California History

CALIFORNIA – The Carr Fire burning in Northern California has become one of the largest and deadliest wildfires in state history.

Cal Fire updated its list of the top 20 largest California wildfires Friday, with the Carr Fire landing 20th on the list. By Friday evening, the list was already outdated as the fire in Shasta and Trinity counties grew to 133,924 acres, which would make it the 19th largest wildfire, surpassing the July 2016 Soberanes Fire that burned 132,127 acres in Monterey County.

As of Friday evening, the Carr Fire has destroyed 1,070 homes, 21 commercial structures and 492 outbuildings, according to Cal Fire. Another 188 homes, 23 commercial structures and 60 outbuildings have been damaged. The blaze was 39 percent contained.

The Thomas Fire, which sparked in December 2017, became the largest wildfire after blackening 281,893 acres in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. It surpassed the October 2003 Cedar Fire that scorched 273,246 acres in San Diego.

The Carr Fire has also become the 13th deadliest wildfire in state history. Six people have died as a result of the fire, including a firefighter and a bulldozer operator.

The Griffith Park Fire was the deadliest wildfire in California history. The October 1933 blaze killed 29 people in Los Angeles County. The October 2017 Northern California wildfires, however, were collectively more deadly.

As California copes with another devastating wildfire season, here’s a look back at the largest and deadliest blazes in state history.

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Top 20 Largest California Wildfires

*As of Aug. 3, 2018

FIRE NAME (CAUSE) DATE COUNTY ACRES STRUCTURES DEATHS 1. Thomas Fire
(under investigation) December 2017 Ventura & Santa Barbara 281,893 1,063 1 2. Cedar Fire
(human related) October 2003 San Diego 273,246 2,820 15 3. Rush Fire
(lightning) August 2012 Lassen 271,911 CA / 43,666 NV 0 0 4. Rim Fire
(human related) August 2013 Tuolumne 257,314 112 0 5. Zaca Fire
(human related) July 2007 Santa Barbara 240,207 1 0 6. Matilija Fire
(undetermined) September 1932 Ventura 220,000 0 0 7. Witch Fire
(powerlines) October 2007 San Diego 197,990 1,650 2 8. Klamath Theater Complex Fire
(lightning) June 2008 Siskiyou 192,038 0 2 9. Marble Cone Fire
(lightning) July 1977 Monterey 177,866 0 0 10. Laguna Fire
(powerlines) September 1970 San Diego 175,425 382 5 11. Basin Complex Fire
(lightning) June 2008 Monterey 162,818 58 0 12. Day Fire
(human related) September 2006 Ventura 162,702 11 0 13. Station Fire
(human related) August 2009 Los Angeles 160,557 209 2 14. Rough Fire
(lightning) July 2015 Fresno 151,623 4 0 15. McNally Fire
(human related) July 2002 Tulare 150,696 17 0 16. Stanislaus Complex Fire
(lightning) August 1987 Tuolumne 145,980 28 1 17. Big Bar Complex Fire
(lightning) August 1999 Trinity 140,948 0 0 18. Happy Camp Complex Fire
(lightning) August 2014 Siskiyou 134,056 6 0 19. Soberanes Fire
(illegal campfire) July 2016 Monterey 132,127 68 1 20. Carr*
(human related) July 2018 Shasta & Trinity 131,896 1,567 6

* Fire is not contained and totals are likely to change.

NOTE: There is no doubt that there were fires with significant acreage burned in years prior to 1932, but those records are less reliable, and this list is meant to give an overview of the largest fires in more recent times, according to Cal Fire.

Top 20 Deadliest California Wildfires

*As of Aug. 3, 2018

FIRE NAME (CAUSE) DATE COUNTY ACRES STRUCTURES DEATHS 1. Griffith Park Fire
(unknown) October 1933 Los Angeles 47 0 29 2. Tunnel Fire
(rekindle) October 1991 Alameda 1,600 2,900 25 3. Tubbs Fire
(under investigation) October 2017 Napa & Sonoma 36,807 5,643 22 4. Cedar Fire
(human related) October 2003 San Diego 273,246 2,820 15 5. Rattlesnake Fire
(arson) July 1953 Glenn 1,340 0 15 6. Loop Fire
(unknown) November 1966 Los Angeles 2,028 0 12 7. Hauser Creek
(human related) October 1943 San Diego 13,145 0 11 8. Inaja Fire
(human related) November 1956 San Diego 43,904 0 11 9. Iron Alps Complex Fire
(lightning) August 2008 Trinity 105,855 10 10 10. Redwood Valley Fire
(under investigation) October 2017 Mendocino 36,523 544 9 11. Harris Fire
(under investigation) October 2007 San Diego 90,440 548 8 12. Canyon Fire
(unknown) August 1968 Los Angeles 22,197 0 8 13. Carr Fire*
(human related) July 2018 Shasta & Trinity 131,896 1,567 6 14. Atlas Fire
(under investigation) October 2017 Napa & Solano 51,624 781 6 15. Old Fire
(human related) October 2003 San Bernardino 91,281 1,003 6 16. Decker Fire
(vehicle) August 1959 Riverside 1,425 1 6 17. Hacienda Fire
(unknown) September 1955 Los Angeles 1,150 0 6 18. Esperanza Fire
(arson) October 2006 Riverside 40,200 54 5 19. Laguna Fire
(powerlines) September 1970 San Diego 175,425 382 5 20. Cascade Fire
(under investigation) October 2017 Yuba 9,989 266 4

* Fire is not contained and totals are likely to change.

NOTE: Fires with the same death count are listed by most recent, according to Cal Fire. Several fires have had four fatalities, but only the most recent are listed.


Photo: Forest burns in the Carr Fire on July 30, 2018, west of Redding, California. Photo by Terray Sylvester/Getty Images