Crime & Safety
Top 20 Largest, Deadliest Wildfires In California History
The Carr Fire in Northern California has become one of the largest wildfires in state history. Here's a look back on other massive blazes.
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 By Friday evening, the list was already outdated as the fire in Shasta and Trinity counties grew to 133,924 acres, which would make it the 19th largest wildfire, surpassing the July 2016 Soberanes Fire that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.
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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.
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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.
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
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