| 2024 California wildfires | |
| References: | [1] [2] |
| Total Fires: | 7,818 |
| Buildings: | 1,680 (397 damaged) |
| Injuries: | 17+ |
| Fatalities: | 1 |
| Is Season: | yes |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Season Name: | California wildfires |
The 2024 California wildfire season is an ongoing series of wildfires that have been burning throughout the U.S. state of California., a total of 7,818 wildfires have burned a cumulative . Year-to-date, the number of wildfires and the number of acres burned are higher than the five-year average.[3] Wildfires have destroyed 1,680 structures and killed one person in the state in 2024. The severity of this season with regards to acres burnt has not been seen since the 2021 season.
The timing of "fire season" in California is variable, depending on the amount of prior winter and spring precipitation, the frequency and severity of weather such as heat waves and wind events, and moisture content in vegetation. Northern California typically sees wildfire activity between late spring and early fall, peaking in the summer with hotter and drier conditions. Occasional cold frontal passages can bring wind and lightning. The timing of fire season in Southern California is similar, peaking between late spring and fall. The severity and duration of peak activity in either part of the state is modulated in part by weather events: downslope/offshore wind events can lead to critical fire weather, while onshore flow and Pacific weather systems can bring conditions that hamper wildfire growth.[4] [5]
By the end of spring (June 20), the total area burned by wildfires in California was nearly . This early spike in activity was primarily from wind-driven grass fires, more than 30 of which occurred on several days in mid-June with low humidity, high temperatures, and strong winds.
The first and only wildfire fatality of the year in California occurred on July 8, when the Mina Fire burned a home.[6]
During late July, the total area burned during the 2024 wildfire season saw significant growth due in part to long periods of hot, dry weather. These conditions allowed several fires to grow rapidly in size, such as the Park Fire, in Butte and Tehama counties, and the Borel Fire, in Sequoia National Forest. By July 29, more than had burned across the state.[7]
Fire activity decreased during August, but a long period of extreme heat across the Western United States during early September allowed numerous wildfires across the state to grow rapidly, such as the Line Fire, the Bridge Fire, and the Airport Fire in Southern California. Later in September, fire activity again decreased due to improved fire weather.[8]
The following is a list of fires that have burned more than, produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties.
| Name | County < | -- of origin--> | Acres | Start date | Containment date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School | Kern | [9] | |||||
| Roberts | Monterey | Burned in Camp Roberts. | [10] | ||||
| Hill | Santa Barbara | [11] | |||||
| Firebaugh | Madera | [12] | |||||
| Corral | San Joaquin | Destroyed one home and injured two firefighters. Prompted highway closures and evacuation orders near Tracy. | [13] [14] | ||||
| West | Kern | [15] | |||||
| Road | Kern | [16] | |||||
| Lost | Kern | [17] | |||||
| Bear | San Luis Obispo | [18] | |||||
| Junes | Butte | Destroyed one structure. | [19] | ||||
| Post | Los Angeles, Ventura | Began near Gorman, burned parallel to Interstate 5; caused the evacuation of ~1,200 people in nearby recreation areas. Destroyed one structure, injured one person. | [20] [21] | ||||
| Hesperia | San Bernardino | [22] | |||||
| Point | Sonoma | Prompted evacuations of some 400 residents northwest of Dry Creek Valley. Caused one injury and destroyed three structures. | [23] | ||||
| Sites | Colusa | [24] [25] | |||||
| Aero | Calaveras | Caused evacuations in both Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, damaged one structure and destroyed three. | [26] [27] | ||||
| Apache | Butte | Prompted evacuations in Butte County. A firefighter was injured, and the fire destroyed 14 structures and damaged two. | [28] | ||||
| Fresno June Lightning Complex | Fresno | Consisted of the Flash, Bolt, Hog, and other fires. Ignited by lightning. Destroyed one structure. | [29] | ||||
| Basin | Fresno | Prompted evacuations in the Kirch Flat Campground and Balch Camp area. | [30] [31] [32] | ||||
| Mccain | San Diego | Prompted evacuations near Jacumba and caused one civilian injury. | [33] | ||||
| Thompson | Butte | Caused evacuations in parts of Oroville and Kelly Ridge. Destroyed 26 structures, damaged eight. Two people were injured. Started by arson. | [34] [35] | ||||
| Airline | San Benito | Caused one injury. | [36] | ||||
| Shelly | Siskiyou | Eight firefighters were injured. | [37] [38] | ||||
| Olive | Kern | [39] | |||||
| French | Mariposa | Destroyed 11 structures, damaged seven, and caused four injuries. | [40] | ||||
| Lake | Santa Barbara | Destroyed four structures, damaged one, and injured seven firefighters. | [41] [42] | ||||
| North | Modoc | [43] | |||||
| Vista | San Bernardino | Caused the evacuation of the Mt. Baldy ski resort | [44] [45] | ||||
| Mina | Mendocino | Resulted in one fatality and destroyed two structures. | [46] | ||||
| Hurricane | San Luis Obispo, Kern | [47] | |||||
| White | Kern | [48] | |||||
| SQF Lightning Complex | Tulare | Contained the Trout and Long fires. The Trout and Long fires burned within the Domeland Wilderness. | [49] [50] [51] | ||||
| Rancho | Kern | [52] | |||||
| Rim | Lassen | [53] | |||||
| Lost Hills | Kern | Crossed over and shut down a portion of Interstate 5 near Lost Hills. | [54] [55] [56] | ||||
| Hill | Humboldt | Caused 5 injuries | [57] [58] | ||||
| Happy | Fresno | Burned in the Monarch Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park. Started by lightning. | [59] | ||||
| Ridge | Lake, Colusa | [60] | |||||
| Eagle | Riverside | [61] | |||||
| Hawarden | Riverside | Destroyed seven homes and damaged eighteen more in Riverside. Started by fireworks. | [62] [63] [64] [65] | ||||
| Gold Complex | Plumas | Comprised the Smith and Mill fires. | [66] [67] [68] | ||||
| Metz | Monterey | [69] | |||||
| Apache | Ventura | [70] | |||||
| Borel | Kern | Destroyed 223 structures and damaged 29. Prompted evacuations in Kern County and destroyed the historic community of Havilah. | [71] [72] [73] [74] | ||||
| Park | Butte, Tehama | Fourth largest wildfire in California history. Destroyed 709 structures and damaged 54, including parts of the community of Cohasset, California. Started by arson. | [75] | ||||
| San Clemente Island | Los Angeles | Burned more than one-third of San Clemente Island, damaging electrical infrastructure for the naval base there. | [76] | ||||
| Nixon | Riverside, San Diego | Forced evacuations near Anza. Destroyed 23 structures and damaged three. Human caused. | [77] [78] | ||||
| Pedro | Mariposa, Tuolumne | Destroyed two structures. | [79] | ||||
| Coffee Pot | Tulare | Burning in Sequoia National Park. Injured three firefighters. Started by lightning. | [80] | ||||
| Edgehill | San Bernardino | Destroyed six structures and damaged three. | [81] | ||||
| Crozier | El Dorado | [82] [83] | |||||
| Boise | Humboldt, Siskiyou | Burned in Six Rivers and Klamath National Forests. | [84] [85] | ||||
| Bear | Sierra | [86] | |||||
| Boone | Fresno, Monterey | Prompted evacuations in Fresno and Monterey Counties. | [87] | ||||
| Chimineas | San Luis Obispo | [88] | |||||
| Line | San Bernardino | Prompted evacuation orders in parts of Highland and the entire community of Running Springs. Destroyed one structure and injured six firefighters. Started by arson. | [89] | ||||
| Roblar | San Diego | Burned in Camp Pendleton. | [90] | ||||
| Boyles | Lake | Destroyed 33 residential structures and 80 vehicles in Clearlake. | [91] | ||||
| Bridge | Los Angeles, San Bernardino | Burned in the Angeles National Forest. Prompted evacuation orders for Wrightwood and Mount Baldy Village. Destroyed 81 structures and injured eight firefighters. Cause under investigation. | [92] | ||||
| Airport | Orange, Riverside | Began in Trabuco Canyon. Evacuations were along Ortega Highway and in surrounding areas. Destroyed 160 structures. Two civilians and 20 firefighters were injured. Started by equipment use. | [93] | ||||
| Shoe | Shasta | Burned in Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Injured one firefighter. Human-caused. | [94] | ||||
| Gabilan | Monterey | Burned in Fort Hunter Liggett. | [95] | ||||
| Horseshoe | Inyo | Began in Inyo National Forest. Was declared contained on November 14 before reigniting under strong winds late November 22. Destroyed two homes and six outbuildings. | [96] [97] | ||||
| Mountain | Ventura | Destroyed 243 structures and damaged 127 near Camarillo. Injured five civilians and one firefighter. | [98] [99] [100] |