The United States has experienced some of the most severe and expansive wildfires in recorded history, with these events often leaving profound impacts on ecosystems, communities, and the environment.
Over the years, these fires have grown in intensity and frequency, highlighting the urgent need for effective management and prevention strategies.
In this article, WoK delves into the 10 largest wildfires in U.S. history, examining their causes, consequences, and the broader implications for wildfire management and prevention in the future.
1. Texas Wildfires (2024)
The 2024 Texas wildfires were a series of devastating fires, with the Smokehouse Creek Fire being the largest in Texas history. It began on February 26, 2024, in Hutchinson County and spread across the Texas Panhandle and into western Oklahoma, burning approximately 1,058,482 acres. The fire was caused by downed power lines from a broken utility pole and resulted in significant damage, including hundreds of homes destroyed, thousands of livestock killed, and substantial economic losses estimated at over $4.6 billion. The fire was fully contained by March 16, 2024.
2. Maui Wildfires, Hawaii (2023)
The 2023 Maui wildfires were a series of devastating fires that occurred on the island of Maui, Hawaii, starting on August 8, 2023. The fires, fueled by high winds and dry conditions, caused significant destruction, particularly in the historic town of Lahaina, where approximately 81% of structures were destroyed. The wildfires resulted in at least 102 fatalities, making them one of the deadliest U.S. wildfires in over a century. Over 2,200 structures were destroyed, with estimated damages exceeding $5.5 billion. The cause was attributed to undetected re-energization of broken utility lines, which sparked unmaintained vegetation.
3. Dixie Fire, California (2021)
The Dixie Fire was a massive wildfire in Northern California, starting on July 13, 2021, near Cresta Dam in the Feather River Canyon. It burned 963,309 acres, making it the largest single-source wildfire in California’s recorded history and the second-largest overall, after the August Complex Fire of 2020. The fire was caused by a Douglas fir tree falling onto a Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) power line, creating an electrical fault that ignited nearby fuels. The fire destroyed over 1,300 structures, including historic buildings in Greenville, and caused significant economic and environmental damage.
4. Bay Area Fire, California (2020)
The 2020 Bay Area fire season in California was marked by several significant wildfires, though none were specifically referred to as the “Bay Area Fire tragedy.” However, notable fires in the broader region included the CZU Lightning Complex and the LNU Lightning Complex, both of which were part of a series of lightning-sparked fires that burned across Northern California. The CZU Lightning Complex burned over 86,000 acres in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, while the LNU Lightning Complex burned over 363,000 acres across Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Yolo, and Solano counties. These fires were part of the larger 2020 California wildfire season, which was the largest on record at the time, with over 4.3 million acres burned statewide.
5. Camp Fire, California (2018)
The 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in the state’s history. It began on November 8, 2018, near Pulga in Butte County, ignited by a faulty Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) power line. The fire burned 153,336 acres, destroying over 18,000 structures, including most of the town of Paradise. It resulted in 85 fatalities, displaced more than 50,000 people, and caused an estimated $16.5 billion in damage, making it the costliest disaster worldwide in 2018. The fire was fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, spreading rapidly through communities like Concow and Magalia.
6. Tubbs Fire, California (2017)
The Tubbs Fire was a devastating wildfire that occurred in Northern California during October 2017. It started near Calistoga on October 8, 2017, and spread rapidly due to strong Diablo winds, affecting Napa, Sonoma, and Lake counties. The fire burned approximately 36,807 acres, destroyed over 5,600 structures, and claimed 22 lives. It was caused by the failure of a private electrical system. At the time, it was the most destructive wildfire in California’s history, though its record was later surpassed by the 2018 Camp Fire. The economic impact was significant, with estimated losses ranging from $1.3 billion to $7 billion.
7. Yarnell Fire, Arizona (2013)
The Yarnell Hill Fire occurred in Arizona from June 28 to July 10, 2013. It was sparked by dry lightning in Yavapai County and fueled by extreme heat and drought, burning approximately 8,400 acres. The fire resulted in the deaths of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots, the largest loss of U.S. firefighters since the September 11 attacks. It destroyed 129 structures and caused significant damage, including $900 million in total losses. The fire’s rapid spread was exacerbated by sudden changes in weather patterns, which trapped the firefighters.
8. Alaska Fire Season (2004)
The 2004 Alaska fire season was the most severe on record in terms of area burned, with over 6.6 million acres affected across 701 fires. The season was marked by an unusual weather pattern, starting with a warm and wet May, followed by a hot and dry June and July. Record lightning strikes, totaling 147,642, contributed significantly to the fires. The largest fire was the Taylor Complex Fire, burning over 1.7 million acres. The fires had significant impacts on air quality and climate, with Fairbanks experiencing hazardous conditions for extended periods.
9. Oakland Hills Fire, California (1991)
The Oakland Hills Fire, also known as the Tunnel Fire, occurred on October 19-20, 1991, in the Oakland Hills and southeastern Berkeley, California. It began as a small grass fire that was initially extinguished but re-ignited the next day due to strong Diablo winds. The fire spread rapidly, consuming 1,520 acres and destroying 2,843 single-family dwellings and 437 apartment units. It resulted in 25 deaths, 150 injuries, and an estimated $1.5 billion in damages in 1991 dollars, which is approximately $2.99 billion today. The fire remains one of the most destructive wildland-urban interface fires in U.S. history.
10. Yellowstone Fires (1988)
The Yellowstone fires of 1988 were a series of wildfires that burned across Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas from June to November 1988. The fires started with lightning strikes and human activity, and were exacerbated by the driest summer on record, high winds, and dry conditions. Initially, the park followed a “let-burn” policy for natural fires, but as conditions worsened, suppression efforts were initiated. Over 793,880 acres of the park (about 36% of its area) and 1.2 million acres in the greater Yellowstone area were burned. The fires resulted in two civilian deaths outside the park and significant economic costs, estimated at over $120 million.
