Four of the five-largest wildfires on record in California started in August and September 2020, weeks ahead of what is typically the most dangerous time of year for wildfires.
Below, you'll find a list of the 15-largest fires on record in California.
Each fire includes the cause of the fire, date, location, acres burned, number of buildings damaged and fatalities. The data was compiled by Cal Fire and does not include fires before 1932, when less reliable records were available.
California
News from across California
The list includes all fires in California, regardless of whether they were under local, state or federal agencies' responsibility.
1. August Complex
Acres: 1,032,648
Cause: Under Investigation
Date: August 2020
Location: Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake and Colusa counties
Structures: 935
Fatalities: 1
2. Mendocino Complex
Acres: 459,123
Cause: Under Investigation
Date: July 2018
Location: Colusa, Lake, Mendocino and Glenn counties
Structures: 280
Fatalities: 1
3. SCU Lightning Complex
Acres: 396,624
Cause: Under Investigation, possibly lightning
Date: August 2020
Location: Stanislaus, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Joaquin counties
Structures: 222
Fatalities: None
4. Creek Fire
Cause: Under investigation
Date: September 2020
Location: Fresno and Madera counties
Acres: 379,893
Structures: 856
Fatalities: None
5. LNU Lightning Complex
Cause: Under investigation, possibly lightning
Date: August 2020
Location: Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Yolo and Solano counties
Acres: 363,220
Structures: 1,491
Fatalities: 6
6. North Complex
Cause: Under investigation, possibly lightning
Date: August 2020
Location: Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties
Acres: 318,935
Structures: 2,352
Fatalities: 15
7. Thomas
Cause: Under investigation
Date: December 2017
Location: Ventura, Santa Barbara counties
Acres: 281,893
Structures: 1,063
Fatalities: 2
8. Cedar
Cause: Human Related
Date: October 2003
Location: San Diego County
Acres: 273,246
Structures: 2,820
Fatalities: 15
9. Rush
Cause: Lightning
Date: August 2012
Location: Lassen County
Acres: 271,911 California/43,666 Nevada
Structures: None
Fatalities: None
10. Rim
Cause: Human Related
Date: August 2013
Location: Tuolumne County
Acres: 257,314
Structures: 112
Fatalities: None
11. Zaca
Cause: Human Related
Date: July 2007
Location: Santa Barbara County
Acres: 240,207
Structures: 1
Fatalities: 0
12. Carr Fire
Cause: Human Related
Date: July 2018
Location: Shasta, Trinity Counties
Acres: 229,651
Structures: 1,604
Fatalities: 7
13. Matilija
Cause: Undetermined
Date: September 1932
Location: Ventura County
Acres: 220,000
Structures: None
Fatalities: None
14. Witch
Cause: Powerlines
Date: October 2007
Location: San Diego County
Acres: 197,990
Structures: 1,650
Fatalities: 2
15. Klamath Theater Complex
Cause: Lightning
Date: June 2008
Location:Siskiyou County
Acres: 192,038
Structures: None
Fatalities: 2
