2018 California wildfires facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 2018 California wildfires |
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An August 1, 2018, satellite image of the wildfires burning in Northern California and Southern Oregon; smoke can be seen trailing northeastward over Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho
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| Statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Total fires | 8,527 | ||||||||||||||
| Total area | 1,893,913 acres (766,439 ha) | ||||||||||||||
| Cost | >$3.5 billion (2018 USD) | ||||||||||||||
| Buildings destroyed | 22,751 | ||||||||||||||
| Deaths | 97 civilians and 6 firefighters killed | ||||||||||||||
| Non-fatal injuries | At least 80 total | ||||||||||||||
| Season | |||||||||||||||
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← 2017
2019 →
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The 2018 California wildfires were a series of large wildfires that caused a lot of damage. These fires were some of the worst in California's history. They burned more land and caused more harm than in any other year on record.
More than 7,500 separate fires started across the state. They burned over 1.6 million acres of land. This was the largest area ever burned in a single fire season in California.
The fires caused more than $2.975 billion in damage. This huge cost included money spent on putting out the fires. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) spent over $432 million on operations by August 2018.
Contents
Major Wildfires of 2018
Several large fires made up the 2018 wildfire season. Two of these fires were especially notable for their size and impact.
The Mendocino Complex Fire
The Mendocino Complex Fire was the biggest wildfire in California's history. It was actually two fires, the Ranch Fire and the River Fire, that burned together. This massive fire caused over $257 million in damage. Sadly, one firefighter lost their life while battling this blaze.
The Camp Fire
The Camp Fire caused more damage than any other single fire in California's history. It was a very destructive fire that started in November 2018. This fire destroyed or damaged more than 17,000 homes and businesses. It also led to the deaths of 84 people.
Overall Impact
The 2018 wildfires in California had a huge impact on the state. More than 100 people died because of these fires. The total damage from the wildfires was billions of dollars. These events showed how powerful and destructive wildfires can be.
Images for kids
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Air quality of California on August 7, 2018
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The Woolsey Fire encroaching on Malibu on November 9
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Photograph of smoky sky near sunset in early August looking toward the west, in Sacramento, California. The smoke was produced by the wildfires.
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California National Guard battles wildfires.
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The Bay Bridge in San Francisco, California. The photo on the left was taken November 16, 2018 and the one on the right October 14, 2018.
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Golden Gate Park as seen by drone during the Camp Fire
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See also
In Spanish: Incendios forestales en California de 2018 para niños
