List of California wildfires - wikipedia List of California wildfires Santa Ana winds in California expands fires and spreads smoke over hundreds of miles, as in this October 2007 satellite image The Rim Fire consumed more than 250,000 acres ( 100,000 ha ) of forest near Yosemite National Park, in 2013 California has dry, windy, and often hot weather conditions from late spring through autumn that can produce moderate to devastating wildfires. At times, these wildfires are fanned or made worse by strong, dry winds, known as Diablo winds when they occur in the northern part of the state and Santa Ana winds when they occur in the south. Wildfires in California are growing more dangerous as people build in rural burn areas and climate change worsens. United States taxpayers pay about US $ 3 billion a year to fight wildfires, and big fires can lead to billions of dollars in property losses. The following is a list of notable wildfires of various sizes that have occurred in California. Contents 1 Largest fires 2 Deadliest fires 3 Most destructive fires 4 Pre-2000 5 Post-2000 5.1 Yearly statistics 5.2 Notable fires 6 Areas of repeated ignition 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Largest Fires These are the 20 largest wildfires in California since 1932 ( when accurate records started to be kept ), according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ( CAL FIRE ). Note : means that the fire is currently burning. Total size and position in the list are subject to change. Name County Acres Hectares Start date Structures Deaths Notes Mendocino Complex Mendocino, Lake, Colusa, Glenn 459,102 185,792.0 July 2018 280 The Ranch Fire by itself, at 410,182 acres ( 90 % contained ) as of 27 August 2018, is the largest fire in California history. One firefighter died. Thomas Ventura, Santa Barbara 281,893 114,078.0 December 2017 1,063 Fatalities attributed to the fire include 1 firefighter and 1 civilian directly, 21 deaths in later mudslides. Cedar San Diego 273,246 110,578.7 October 2003 2,820 15 Rush Lassen 271,911 110,038.5 August 2012 0 0 This fire burned an additional 43,666 acres ( 17,671.0 ha ) in Nevada, for a total of 315,577 acres ( 127,709.5 ha ). Rim Tuolumne 257,314 104,131.3 August 2013 112 0 Zaca Santa Barbara 240,207 97,208.3 July 2007 0 Carr Shasta, Trinity 229,651 92,936.5 July 2018 1,604 8 Matilija Ventura 220,000 89,030.8 September 1932 0 0 Witch San Diego 197,990 80,123.7 October 2007 1,650 Klamath Theater Complex Siskiyou 192,038 77,715.0 June 2008 0 Marble Cone Monterey 177,866 71,979.8 July 1977 0 0 Laguna San Diego 175,425 70,992.0 September 1970 382 5 Basin Complex Monterey 162,818 65,890.1 June 2008 58 0 Day Ventura 162,702 65,843.2 September 2006 11 0 Station Los Angeles 160,557 64,975.1 August 2009 209 Rough Fresno 151,623 61,359.7 July 2015 0 McNally Tulare 150,696 60,984.5 July 2002 17 0 Stanislaus Complex Tuolumne 145,980 59,076.0 August 1987 28 Big Bar Complex Trinity 140,948 57,039.6 August 1999 0 0 Happy Camp Complex Siskiyou 134,056 54,250.5 August 2014 6 0 Deadliest fires This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( August 2018 ) A list of the 20 deadliest fires, according to CAL FIRE, can be found here : http://calfire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/Top20_Deadliest.pdf Name County Acres Hectares Start date Structures Deaths Notes Griffith Park Los Angeles 47 19.0 October 1933 0 29 Deaths were RFC workers attempting to fight the fire Tunnel Alameda 1,600 647.5 October 1991 2,900 25 Tubbs Napa, Sonoma 36,807 14,895.3 October 2017 5643 22 Most Destructive Fires A list of the 20 most destructive fires, according to CAL FIRE, can be found here : http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/Top20_Destruction.pdf Name County Acres Hectares Start date Structures Deaths Notes Tubbs Napa, Sonoma 36,807 14,895.3 October 2017 5,636 22 Tunnel Alameda 1,600 647.5 October 1991 2,900 25 Cedar San Diego 273,246 110,578.7 October 2003 2,820 15 Valley Lake, Napa, Sonoma 76,067 30,783.2 September 2015 1,955 4 confirmed fatalities, 1 person still listed as missing. Witch San Diego 197,900 80,087.3 October 2007 1,650 6 Carr Shasta, Trinity 229,651 92,936.5 July 2018 1,604 8 Nuns Sonoma 54,382 22,007.6 October 2017 1,355 Thomas Ventura, Santa Barbara 281,893 114,078.0 December 2017 1,063 Old San Bernardino 91,281 36,940.1 October 2003 1,003 6 Jones Shasta 26,200 10,602.8 October 1999 954 Butte Amador, Calaveras 70,868 28,679.3 September 2015 921 Atlas Napa, Solano 51,624 20,891.5 October 2017 783 6 Paint Santa Barbara 4,900 1,983.0 June 1990 641 Fountain Shasta 63,960 25,883.7 August 1992 636 0 Sayre Los Angeles 11,262 4,557.6 November 2008 604 0 Berkeley Alameda 130 52.6 September 1923 584 0 Harris San Diego 90,440 36,599.8 October 2007 548 8 Redwood Valley Complex Mendocino 36,623 14,820.8 October 2017 546 9 Bel Air Los Angeles 6,000 2,428.1 November 1961 484 0 Laguna Orange 14,437 5,842.4 October 1993 441 0 Pre-2000 Remains of houses destroyed in the Oakland firestorm of 1991 Santiago Canyon Fire ( 1889 ). Burned on the order of 310,000 acres ( 130,000 ha ). Berkeley Fire ( 1923 ). Destroyed 640 structures, including 584 homes. Griffith Park Fire ( 1933 ). Official death toll was 29 firefighters, but may have killed up to 58. Rattlesnake Fire ( 1953 ). 15 firefighters were killed in this arsonist 's fire. Bel Air Fire ( 1961 ). 484 homes were destroyed ; 112 injuries. Laguna Fire ( 1970 ). 382 homes burned, killing eight people. Painted Cave Fire ( 1990 ). 1 death and 430 buildings burned in this arson fire near Santa Barbara. Oakland firestorm ( 1991 ). Killed 25 people. Destroyed 2,843 single - family homes and 437 multi-family units. Mount Vision Fire ( 1995 ). 45 homes destroyed. Cause : illegal campfire. Post-2000 Satellite image of the 2003 Cedar Fire, the third - largest wildfire in California history Starting in 2001, the National Interagency Fire Center began keeping more accurate records on the total fire acreage burned in each state. Yearly Statistics Year Fires Acres Hectares Ref 2000 7,622 295,026 119,392.8 9,458 329,126 133,192.6 2002 8,328 969,890 392,500.6 2003 9,116 1,020,460 412,965.5 8,415 264,988 107,236.8 2005 7,162 222,538 90,057.9 2006 8,202 736,022 297,857.5 2007 9,093 1,520,362 615,268.7 2008 4,923 1,593,690 644,943.5 2009 9,159 422,147 170,836.8 6,554 109,529 44,324.8 2011 7,989 168,545 68,207.7 2012 7,950 869,599 351,914.2 2013 9,907 601,635 243,473.0 2014 7,865 555,044 224,618.3 2015 8,745 893,362 361,530.8 2016 6,986 565,070 228,675.7 2017 9,560 1,226,224 496,235.2 Average 8,087 655,104 265,111.2 A 2015 study addressed whether the increase in fire risk in California is attributable to climate change. Notable Fires Note : † means fire is currently burning. Check primary sources for up - to - date statistics. Name County Acres Hectares Start Contained Notes Ref Rumsey Yolo 39,138 15,838.6 October 10, 2004 October 16, 2004 5 structures destroyed Old San Bernardino 91,281 36,940.1 October 21, 2003 November 25, 2003 975 structures destroyed Simi Ventura 108,204 43,788.6 October 25, 2003 November 5, 2003 315 structures destroyed Topanga Los Angeles 24,175 9,783.3 September 28, 2005 October 6, 2005 Esperanza Riverside 41,173 16,662.1 October 26, 2006 November 1, 2006 5 fatalities, 54 structures destroyed Island Los Angeles 4,750 1,922.3 May 10, 2007 May 15, 2007 6 structures destroyed Zaca Santa Barbara 240,207 97,208.3 July 4, 2007 September 4, 2007 1 structure destroyed Witch San Diego 197,990 80,123.7 October 21, 2007 November 6, 2007 1,650 structures destroyed Harris San Diego 90,440 36,599.8 October 21, 2007 November 5, 2007 472 structures destroyed ; 1 fatality Santiago Orange 28,400 11,493.1 October 21, 2007 November 9, 2007 24 structures destroyed Corral Los Angeles 4,901 1,983.4 November 24, 2007 November 27, 2007 86 structures destroyed Indians Monterey 81,378 32,932.5 June 8, 2008 July 10, 2008 Basin Complex Monterey 162,818 65,890.1 June 21, 2008 July 27, 2008 Sesnon Los Angeles 14,703 5,950.1 October 13, 2008 October 18, 2008 Jesusita Santa Barbara 8,733 3,534.1 May 5, 2009 May 20, 2009 160 structures destroyed La Brea Santa Barbara 89,489 36,214.9 August 8, 2009 August 23, 2009 Lockheed Santa Cruz 7,817 3,163.4 August 12, 2009 August 23, 2009 13 structures destroyed Station Los Angeles 160,577 64,983.2 August 26, 2009 October 16, 2009 209 structures destroyed ; 2 fatalities Guiberson Ventura 17,500 7,082.0 September 22, 2009 October 1, 2009 Rush Lassen 271,991 110,070.9 August 12, 2012 August 30, 2012 1 barn destroyed Springs Ventura 28,000 11,000 May 2, 2013 May 6, 2013 20 outbuildings destroyed Powerhouse Los Angeles 30,000 12,000 May 30, 2013 June 10, 2013 24 structures destroyed Mountain Riverside 27,531 11,141.4 July 15, 2013 July 21, 2013 23 structures destroyed Silver Riverside 20,292 8,211.9 August 7, 2013 August 12, 2013 48 structures destroyed Rim Tuolumne 257,314 104,131.3 August 17, 2013 October 24, 2013 112 structures destroyed Clover Shasta 8,073 3,267.0 September 9, 2013 September 15, 2013 68 homes destroyed ; 1 fatality Happy Camp Complex Siskiyou 134,056 54,250.5 August 14, 2014 October 31, 2014 6 structures destroyed King El Dorado 97,717 39,544.7 September 13, 2014 October 9, 2014 80 structures destroyed Boles Siskiyou 516 208.8 September 15, 2014 October 11, 2014 157 structures destroyed Lake San Bernardino 31,359 12,690.5 June 17, 2015 August 1, 2015 4 structures destroyed North San Bernardino 4,250 1,719.9 July 17, 2015 July 21, 2015 7 structures destroyed Rocky Lake 69,438 28,100.6 July 29, 2015 August 14, 2015 43 structures destroyed Butte Amador and Calaveras 70,868 28,679.3 September 9, 2015 October 1, 2015 818 structures destroyed ; 2 fatalities Valley Lake, Napa, Sonoma 76,067 30,783.2 September 12, 2015 October 15, 2015 1,955 structures destroyed ; 4 fatalities Erskine Kern 47,864 19,369.9 June 23, 2016 July 11, 2016 309 buildings destroyed ; 2 fatalities Sand Los Angeles 41,432 16,766.9 July 22, 2016 August 3, 2016 18 homes destroyed, 2 fatalities Soberanes Monterey 132,127 53,469.9 July 22, 2016 October 12, 2016 57 homes, 11 outbuildings destroyed, 1 fatality Chimney San Luis Obispo 46,344 18,754.8 August 13, 2016 September 6, 2016 68 structures destroyed Clayton Lake 3,929 1,590.0 August 13, 2016 August 26, 2016 175 structures destroyed, including a Habitat for Humanity office Blue Cut San Bernardino 37,000 14,973.4 August 16, 2016 August 23, 2016 105 homes, 213 outbuildings destroyed, 82,000 + evacuated Loma Santa Clara 4,474 1,810.6 September 26, 2016 October 12, 2016 28 structures destroyed Detwiler Mariposa 81,826 33,113.8 July 16, 2017 August 24, 2017 131 structures destroyed Tubbs Sonoma 36,807 14,895.3 October 8, 2017 October 31, 2017 5,643 structures destroyed ; 22 fatalities Thomas Ventura, Santa Barbara 281,893 114,078.0 December 4, 2017 January 12, 2018 1,063 structures destroyed ; 2 fatalities ; 104,607 evacuated Lilac San Diego 4,100 1,659.2 December 7, 2017 December 16, 2017 157 structures destroyed ; 10,000 + evacuated Ferguson Mariposa 96,901 39,214.4 July 13, 2018 August 19, 2018 2 firefighters killed, 19 injured Carr Shasta 229,651 92,936.5 July 23, 2018 1,604 structures destroyed ; 8 fatalities Mendocino Complex Mendocino, Lake, Colusa 459,102 185,792.0 July 27, 2018 277 structures destroyed, 1 fatality Areas of repeated ignition The summer 2008 wildfires were widespread and deadly, with at least 3,596 wildfires of various origins burning throughout Northern and Central California, for around four months. In some parts of California, fires can recur in areas with histories of fires. Examples of this are in Oakland, where fires of various size and ignition occurred in 1923, 1931, 1933, 1937, 1946, 1955, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1970, 1980, 1990, 1991, 1995, 2002, and 2008. Other examples being Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and Los Angeles County. In the case of Orange and San Bernardino, these two counties share a county border that runs north to south through the Chino Hills State Park, with the park 's landscape ranging from large green coastal sage scrub, grassland, and woodland, to areas of brown sparsely dense vegetation made drier by droughts or hot summers. The valley 's grass and barren land can become easily susceptible to dry spells and drought, therefore making it a prime spot for brush fires and conflagration, many of which have occurred since 1914. Hills and canyons have seen brush or wildfires in 1914, the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and into today. On occasion, freak lightning strikes from thunderstorms may also spark wildfires in areas that have seen past ignition. Examples of this are the 1999 Megram Fire and the 2008 California wildfires. See also List of wildfires California Climate change in California 2012 -- 13 North American drought References Jump up ^ `` Wildfires are growing more costly ''. NBC News. 2014 - 05 - 14. Jump up ^ `` Top 20 Largest California Wildfires '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 22 September 2016. Jump up ^ http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/2175 Jump up ^ `` The Latest : California wildfire now largest in state history ''. apnews.com. Retrieved 6 April 2018. Jump up ^ `` Rush Fire ''. Inciweb. Archived from the original on 2016 - 03 - 04. Retrieved 2013 - 09 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Rush Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 25 August 2015. Jump up ^ http://calfire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/Top20_Deadliest.pdf Jump up ^ http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/Top20_Destruction.pdf Jump up ^ `` Statistics ''. National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 24 August 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` California Wildfires and Acres for all Jurisdictions ( 1987 - 2016 ) '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. August 1, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2001 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 12 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2002 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 12 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` 2002 Large Fires '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. February 11, 2003. Retrieved December 10, 2017. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2003 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 12 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Large Fires 2003 '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 17 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Otay Fire ''. CAL FIRE. October 27, 2003. Retrieved December 10, 2017. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2004 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 12 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Large Fires 2004 '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 28 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2005 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 12 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Large Fires 2005 '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 19 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2006 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 12 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Large Fires 2006 '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 28 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2007 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 12 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` CAL FIRE 2009 Wildland Fire Summary '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. September 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2017. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2009 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 12 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Large Fires 2009 '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 20 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2010 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 12 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2011 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 12 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Large Fires 2011 '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 21 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2012 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 12 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2013 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 12 August 2015. Jump up ^ Ken Pimlott ; John Laird ; Edmond G. Brown Jr. ( September 3, 2014 ). `` 2013 Wildfire Statistics '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. Retrieved December 24, 2017. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2014 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 12 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2015 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 26 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2016 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 11 November 2017. Jump up ^ `` National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State 2017 '' ( PDF ). National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved 5 June 2018. Jump up ^ `` Was the 2014 wildfire season in California affected by climate change ? - Wildfire Today ''. wildfiretoday.com. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2018. Jump up ^ Yoon et al. ( 2015 ) Extreme Fire Season In California : A Glimpse Into The Future ? https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283425168_EXTREME_FIRE_SEASON_IN_CALIFORNIA_A_GLIMPSE_INTO_THE_FUTURE#full-text Jump up ^ `` Rumsey Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 28 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Old Fire '' ( PDF ). FIRESCOPE. Retrieved 31 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Simi Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 28 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Topanga Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 28 August 2015. Jump up ^ Esperanza Fire Jump up ^ `` Large Fires 2007 '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 21 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Zaca Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 25 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Witch Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 22 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Harris Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 22 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Officials : Arson Behind Santiago Fire ''. CBS.com. 2007 - 10 - 25. pp. 1 -- 2. Retrieved 2007 - 10 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Corral Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 24 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Large Fires 2008 '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 14 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Top 20 Largest California Wildfires '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 14 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Sesnon Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 24 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Jesusita Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 20 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` La Brea Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 21 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Lockheed Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 24 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Station Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 20 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Guiberson Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 21 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Rush Fire ''. Inciweb. Retrieved 2015 - 08 - 07. Jump up ^ Bernstein, Sharon ( May 6, 2013 ). `` Firefighters, helped by rain, mop up California wildfire ''. Reuters. Retrieved 21 July 2013. Jump up ^ Watt, Brian ( June 6, 2013 ). `` Powerhouse Fire : 53 structures, 24 homes burned as officials revise estimates upward ( map ) ''. KPCC. Retrieved 20 July 2013. Jump up ^ Cocca, Christine ( July 31, 2013 ). `` Mountain Fire Fully Contained After Raging for 16 Days ''. NBC 4 Southern California. Retrieved 31 July 2013. Jump up ^ Cocca, Christian ( August 13, 2013 ). `` Silver Fire Reaches Full Containment ''. KNSD. Retrieved 13 August 2013. Jump up ^ `` Rim Fire ''. InciWeb. Retrieved 24 October 2013. Jump up ^ `` Incident information : Clover Fire ''. CalFire. Retrieved 31 January 2014. Jump up ^ `` Happy Camp Complex Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` King Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 5 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Boles Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 6 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Lake Fire ''. InciWeb. Retrieved 6 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` NORTH FIRE : Blaze completely contained ''. The Press - Enterprise ( California ). July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Rocky Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 6 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Butte Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 8 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` Valley Fire ''. CAL FIRE. Retrieved 8 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` Erskine Fire ''. InciWeb. Retrieved June 29, 2016. Jump up ^ Carr, Ada and Wright, Pam ( 24 July 2016 ). `` Body Found As Firefighters Continue to Battle ' Sand Fire ' Near Los Angeles ; 18 Homes Destroyed ''. The Weather Channel. Retrieved 25 July 2016. CS1 maint : Uses authors parameter ( link ) Jump up ^ `` Soberanes Fire ''. InciWeb. Retrieved 22 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` Chimney Fire approaching Monterey Co, threatens Hearst Castle ''. abc7news.com. 23 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Clayton Fire devastates Lake County town ; thousands flee ''. sfgate.com. 15 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Blue Cut Fire burns 18,000 acres, 82,000 evacuated in San Bernardino County ''. abc7.com. 17 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Loma Fire ''. CAL FIRE. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2018. Jump up ^ `` Detwiler Fire ''. CAL FIRE. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2018. Jump up ^ California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Services ( 2017 - 12 - 17 ). `` Top 20 Most Destructive Fires in California History '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 2017 - 12 - 17. Jump up ^ California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ( 2017 - 11 - 20 ). `` Tubbs Fire ( Central LNU Complex ) ''. CAL FIRE. Archived from the original on 2017 - 11 - 30. Retrieved 2017 - 12 - 17. Jump up ^ California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ( 2017 - 10 - 29 ). `` Incident Fact Sheet Update '' ( PDF ). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 2017 - 12 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Thomas Fire ''. CAL FIRE. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018. Jump up ^ Melissa Etehad ; Ruben Vives ; Harriet Ryan ; Alene Tchekmedyian ( December 11, 2017 ). `` At 230,000 acres, Thomas fire is now the fifth - largest wildfire in modern California history ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 11, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Thomas Fire ''. InciWeb. 19 December 2017. Jump up ^ http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/Top20_Acres.pdf Jump up ^ InciWeb ( 22 March 2018 ). `` Thomas Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System ''. inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 6 April 2018. Jump up ^ `` Lilac Fire ''. CAL FIRE. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017. Jump up ^ `` Lilac Fire Milestone : 100 Percent Contained ''. nbcsandiego.com. Retrieved 6 April 2018. Jump up ^ `` Ferguson Fire ''. inciweb.nwcg.gov. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018. Jump up ^ `` Carr Fire ''. CAL FIRE. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018. Jump up ^ `` Mendocino Complex ''. CAL FIRE. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018. Jump up ^ `` Oakland Hills Fire - Today in Montclair, 94611 ''. montclairoak.com. Retrieved 6 April 2018. Jump up ^ http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca1/groups/fire/documents/webcontent/oak042168.pdf Jump up ^ http://www.hillsforeveryone.org/projects/fire-files/A-100-Year-History-of-Wildfires-Near-CHSP.pdf External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wildfires in California. Official California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ( CAL FIRE ) site CAL FIRE Blogspot : California Fire News California wildfires on the U.S. Forestry Incident Information System ( InciWeb ) Iawfonline.org : Infamous World Fires. Compiled by the International Association of Wildland Fire ( revised May 15, 2008 ) Historical wildfire map 1950 - 2012 California wildfires Pre-2000 Santiago Canyon ( 1889 ) Berkeley ( 1923 ) Matilija ( 1932 ) Griffith Park ( 1933 ) Rattlesnake ( 1953 ) Bel Air ( 1961 ) Laguna ( 1970 ) Marble Cone ( 1977 ) Agoura - Malibu firestorm ( 1978 ) Panorama ( 1980 ) Painted Cave ( 1990 ) Oakland Hills ( 1991 ) Mount Vision ( 1995 ) 2002 Biscuit McNally 2003 Old Simi Cedar Rumsey 2005 Labor Day Topanga 2006 Sawtooth Complex Day Esperanza 2007 Island Angora Zaca Moonlight October 2007 wildfires Harris Witch Buckweed Santiago Rice Corral 2008 Summit Indians Basin Complex Klamath Theater Complex Gap Sesnon Tea Sayre Freeway Complex 2009 Jesusita La Brea Lockheed Station Cottonwood Guiberson Bull West Crown 2011 Lion Comanche Complex 2012 Barry Point Rush Ponderosa 2013 Summit Springs Powerhouse Mountain Silver Rim Clover 2014 Colby Etiwanda May 2014 wildfires Bernardo Tomahawk Poinsettia Cocos Shirley Bully Happy Camp Complex Meadow King Boles 2015 Round Lake North Wragg Rocky River Complex Frog Rough Dodge Jerusalem Cuesta Butte Valley Tassajara Solimar 2016 Pony Sherpa Border Pine San Gabriel Complex Erskine Trailhead Deer Curry Sage Roblar Sand Soberanes Goose Cold Pilot Mineral Chimney Clayton Blue Cut Cedar Rey Gap Bogart Willard Owens River Canyon Sawmill Marshes Loma 2017 Gate Holcomb Schaeffer Salmon August Complex Manzanita Hill Winters Alamo Wall Whittier Detwiler Empire Parker 2 Young Pier Railroad Ponderosa Mud Slinkard Helena La Tuna Palmer Mission October 2017 wildfires Atlas Tubbs Canyon 2 December 2017 wildfires Thomas Creek Rye Skirball Lilac 2018 Lions Lane Pawnee Waverly County Klamathon Georges Valley Holiday Fire Ferguson Carr Cranston Mendocino Complex Whaleback Holy Commons Largest California wildfires Ranch ( 410,182 acres, 1,659.95 km ) Thomas ( 281,893 acres, 1,140.78 km ) Cedar ( 273,246 acres, 1,105.79 km ) Rush ( 271,911 acres, 1,100.38 km in California ) Rim ( 257,314 acres, 1,041.31 km ) Zaca ( 240,207 acres, 972.08 km ) Carr ( 229,651 acres, 929.36 km ) Matilija ( 220,000 acres, 890 km ) Witch ( 197,990 acres, 801.2 km ) Klamath Theater Complex ( 192,038 acres, 777.15 km ) Marble Cone ( 177,866 acres, 719.80 km ) Laguna ( 175,425 acres, 709.92 km ) Basin Complex ( 162,818 acres, 658.90 km ) Day ( 162,702 acres, 658.43 km ) Station ( 160,557 acres, 649.75 km ) Rough ( 151,623 acres, 613.60 km ) McNally ( 150,696 acres, 609.85 km ) Stanislaus Complex ( 145,980 acres, 590.8 km ) Big Bar Complex ( 140,948 acres, 570.40 km ) Happy Camp Complex ( 134,056 acres, 542.51 km ) Santiago Canyon ( ≥ 300,000 acres, 1,200 km ) Note : The Santiago Canyon Fire of 1889 dates before 1932, when fire records began to be deemed reliable. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_California_wildfires&oldid=856956317 '' Categories : Wildfires in California California history - related lists California nature - related lists Lists of disasters in the United States Lists of wildfires Lists of natural disasters Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Uses authors parameter Articles to be expanded from August 2018 All articles to be expanded Articles using small message boxes All articles lacking reliable references Articles lacking reliable references from February 2018 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from December 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Français Italiano 日本 語 Edit links This page was last edited on 28 August 2018, at 16 : 22 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: what is the biggest wild fire in california history
Answer: Mendocino Complex