2024 California wildfires facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 2024 California wildfires |
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An aerial view of the smoke plume emitted by the Lake Fire on July 7, 2024
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| Statistics | |
| Total fires | 7,909 |
| Total area | 1,047,576 acres (423,939 ha) |
| Buildings destroyed | 1,680 (397 damaged) |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 17+ |
| Season | |
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The 2024 California wildfire season is an ongoing series of wildfires that have been burning throughout the U.S. state of California. As of December 10, 2024[update], a total of 7,909 wildfires have burned a cumulative 1,047,576 acres (423,939 ha). Year-to-date, the number of wildfires and the number of acres burned are higher than the five-year average. Wildfires have destroyed 1,680 structures and killed one person in the state in 2024. This season has had the most burned acres since the the 2021 season.
Contents
Background
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.
Summary
By the end of spring (June 20), the total area burned by wildfires in California was nearly 90,000 acres (36,000 ha). 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.
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 726,000 acres (294,000 ha) had burned across the state.
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.
List of wildfires
The following is a list of fires that have burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties.
| Name | County | Acres | Start date | Containment date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School | Kern | 1,479 | May 2 | May 3 | ||
| Roberts | Monterey | 7,030 | May 17 | May 25 | Burned in Camp Roberts. | |
| Hill | Santa Barbara | 1,383 | May 28 | June 1 | ||
| Firebaugh | Madera | 1,300 | May 30 | May 30 | ||
| Corral | San Joaquin | 14,168 | June 1 | June 6 | Destroyed one home and injured two firefighters. Prompted highway closures and evacuation orders near Tracy. | |
| West | Kern | 1,575 | June 2 | June 6 | ||
| Road | Kern | 1,088 | June 4 | June 6 | ||
| Lost | Kern | 3,600 | June 6 | June 11 | ||
| Bear | San Luis Obispo | 1,410 | June 12 | June 14 | ||
| Junes | Butte | 1,056 | June 15 | June 18 | Destroyed one structure. | |
| Post | Los Angeles, Ventura | 15,563 | June 15 | June 26 | 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. | |
| Hesperia | San Bernardino | 1,078 | June 15 | June 24 | ||
| Point | Sonoma | 1,207 | June 16 | June 24 | Prompted evacuations of some 400 residents northwest of Dry Creek Valley. Caused one injury and destroyed three structures. | |
| Sites | Colusa | 19,195 | June 17 | June 25 | ||
| Aero | Calaveras | 5,285 | June 17 | June 27 | Caused evacuations in both Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, damaged one structure and destroyed three. | |
| Apache | Butte | 691 | June 24 | June 29 | Prompted evacuations in Butte County. A firefighter was injured, and the fire destroyed 14 structures and damaged two. | |
| Fresno June Lightning Complex | Fresno | 10,616 | June 24 | July 6 | Consisted of the Flash, Bolt, Hog, and other fires. Ignited by lightning. Destroyed one structure. | |
| Basin | Fresno | 14,023 | June 26 | July 20 | Prompted evacuations in the Kirch Flat Campground and Balch Camp area. | |
| Mccain | San Diego | 1,595 | July 1 | July 10 | Prompted evacuations near Jacumba and caused one civilian injury. | |
| Thompson | Butte | 3,789 | July 2 | July 8 | Caused evacuations in parts of Oroville and Kelly Ridge. Destroyed 26 structures, damaged eight. Two people were injured. Started by arson. | |
| Airline | San Benito | 1,295 | July 2 | July 5 | Caused one injury. | |
| Shelly | Siskiyou | 15,520 | July 3 | August 6 | Eight firefighters were injured. | |
| Olive | Kern | 1,310 | July 3 | July 5 | ||
| French | Mariposa | 908 | July 4 | July 13 | Destroyed 11 structures, damaged seven, and caused four injuries. | |
| Lake | Santa Barbara | 38,664 | July 5 | August 4 | Destroyed four structures, damaged one, and injured seven firefighters. | |
| North | Modoc | 4,685 | July 7 | July 14 | ||
| Vista | San Bernardino | 2,936 | July 7 | August 17 | Caused the evacuation of the Mt. Baldy ski resort | |
| Mina | Mendocino | 98 | July 8 | July 21 | Resulted in one fatality and destroyed two structures. | |
| Hurricane | San Luis Obispo, Kern | 12,703 | July 13 | July 17 | ||
| White | Kern | 5,646 | July 13 | July 26 | ||
| SQF Lightning Complex | Tulare | 33,026 | July 13 | September 17 | Contained the Trout and Long fires. The Trout and Long fires burned within the Domeland Wilderness. | |
| Rancho | Kern | 9,950 | July 13 | July 26 | ||
| Rim | Lassen | 1,025 | July 13 | July 23 | ||
| Lost Hills | Kern | 4,032 | July 14 | July 15 | Crossed over and shut down a portion of Interstate 5 near Lost Hills. | |
| Hill | Humboldt | 7,224 | July 15 | August 14 | Caused 5 injuries | |
| Happy | Fresno | 12,543 | July 16 | November 15 | Burned in the Monarch Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park. Started by lightning. | |
| Ridge | Lake, Colusa | 2,756 | July 20 | July 29 | ||
| Eagle | Riverside | 1,710 | July 21 | July 23 | ||
| Hawarden | Riverside | 527 | July 21 | July 25 | Destroyed seven homes and damaged eighteen more in Riverside. Started by fireworks. | |
| Gold Complex | Plumas | 3,007 | July 22 | August 4 | Comprised the Smith and Mill fires. | |
| Metz | Monterey | 1,100 | July 23 | July 25 | ||
| Apache | Ventura | 1,538 | July 23 | August 3 | ||
| Borel | Kern | 59,288 | July 24 | September 15 | Destroyed 223 structures and damaged 29. Prompted evacuations in Kern County and destroyed the historic community of Havilah. | |
| Park | Butte, Tehama | 429,603 | July 24 | September 26 | Fourth largest wildfire in California history. Destroyed 709 structures and damaged 54, including parts of the community of Cohasset, California. Started by arson. | |
| San Clemente Island | Los Angeles | 13,000 | July 24 | July 30 | Burned more than one-third of San Clemente Island, damaging electrical infrastructure for the naval base there. | |
| Nixon | Riverside, San Diego | 5,222 | July 29 | August 7 | Forced evacuations near Anza. Destroyed 23 structures and damaged three. Human caused. | |
| Pedro | Mariposa, Tuolumne | 3,815 | July 30 | August 8 | Destroyed two structures. | |
| Coffee Pot | Tulare | 14,104 | August 3 |
93% contained
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Burning in Sequoia National Park. Injured three firefighters. Started by lightning. | |
| Edgehill | San Bernardino | 54 | August 5 | August 7 | Destroyed six structures and damaged three. | |
| Crozier | El Dorado | 1,938 | August 6 | August 20 | ||
| Boise | Humboldt, Siskiyou | 12,967 | August 9 | September 20 | Burned in Six Rivers and Klamath National Forests. | |
| Bear | Sierra | 3,323 | September 2 | September 19 | ||
| Boone | Fresno, Monterey | 17,600 | September 3 | September 13 | Prompted evacuations in Fresno and Monterey Counties. | |
| Chimineas | San Luis Obispo | 1,200 | September 4 | September 10 | ||
| Line | San Bernardino | 43,978 | September 5 |
99% contained
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Prompted evacuation orders in parts of Highland and the entire community of Running Springs. Destroyed one structure and injured six firefighters. Started by arson. | |
| Roblar | San Diego | 1,000 | September 7 | September 11 | Burned in Camp Pendleton. | |
| Boyles | Lake | 81 | September 8 | September 11 | Destroyed 33 residential structures and 80 vehicles in Clearlake. | |
| Bridge | Los Angeles, San Bernardino | 56,030 | September 8 | November 26 | 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. | |
| Airport | Orange, Riverside | 23,526 | September 9 | October 5 | 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. | |
| Shoe | Shasta | 5,124 | October 9 | November 8 | Burned in Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Injured one firefighter. Human-caused. | |
| Gabilan | Monterey | 1,200 | October 22 | October 23 | Burned in Fort Hunter Liggett. | |
| Horseshoe | Inyo | 4,537 | October 30 |
98% contained
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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. | |
| Mountain | Ventura | 19,904 | November 6 | November 27 | Destroyed 243 structures and damaged 127 near Camarillo. Injured five civilians and one firefighter. | |
| Franklin | Los Angeles | 3,048 | December 9 |
0% contained
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Destroyed at least 7 structures in Malibu. |
See also
- 2024 Arizona wildfires
- 2024 Colorado wildfires
- 2024 Idaho wildfires
- 2024 Nevada wildfires
- 2024 New Mexico wildfires
- 2024 Oregon wildfires
- List of California wildfires
