| 2024 California wildfires | |
| References: | [1] [2] |
| Total Fires: | 5,313 |
| Buildings: | 1,030 (140 damaged) |
| Injuries: | 17+ |
| Fatalities: | 1 |
| Is Season: | yes |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Season Name: | California wildfires |
The 2024 California wildfire season is an ongoing series of wildfires that have been burning throughout the U.S. state of California., a total of 5,313 wildfires have burned a cumulative . Year-to-date, the number of wildfires and the number of acres burned are higher than the five-year average.[3] Wildfires have destroyed 1,030 structures and killed one person in the state in 2024.
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.[4] [5]
By the end of spring (June 20), the total area burned by wildfires in California was nearly . 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.[6]
During late July, the total area burned during the 2024 wildfire season saw significant growth due in part to long periods of warm, 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 had burned across the state.[7]
The following is a list of fires that have burned more than, produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties.
| Name | County < | -- of origin--> | Acres | Start date | Containment date | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School | Kern | [8] | |||||
| Hill | Santa Barbara | [9] | |||||
| Firebaugh | Madera | [10] | |||||
| Corral | San Joaquin | Destroyed one home and injured two firefighters. Prompted highway closures and evacuation orders near Tracy. | [11] [12] | ||||
| West | Kern | [13] | |||||
| Road | Kern | [14] | |||||
| Lost | Kern | [15] | |||||
| Bear | San Luis Obispo | [16] | |||||
| Junes | Butte | Destroyed one structure. | [17] | ||||
| Post | Los Angeles, Ventura | 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. | [18] [19] | ||||
| Hesperia | San Bernardino | [20] | |||||
| Point | Sonoma | Prompted evacuations of some 400 residents northwest of Dry Creek Valley. Caused one injury and destroyed three structures. | [21] | ||||
| Sites | Colusa | [22] [23] | |||||
| Aero | Calaveras | Caused evacuations in both Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, damaged one structure and destroyed three. | [24] [25] | ||||
| Needles | San Bernardino, Mohave (AZ) | Burned on both sides of the Colorado River in Arizona and California. Burned 60 acres in California and destroyed one structure. Burned 143 acres in Arizona and prompted evacuations in both states. | [26] | ||||
| Apache | Butte | Prompted evacuations in Butte County. A firefighter was injured, and the fire destroyed 14 structures and damaged two. | [27] | ||||
| Fresno June Lightning Complex | Fresno | Consisted of the Flash, Bolt, Hog, and other fires. Ignited by lightning. Destroyed one structure. | [28] | ||||
| Basin | Fresno | Prompted evacuations in the Kirch Flat Campground and Balch Camp area. | [29] [30] [31] | ||||
| Mccain | San Diego | Prompted evacuations near Jacumba and caused one civilian injury. | [32] | ||||
| Thompson | Butte | Caused evacuations in parts of Oroville and Kelly Ridge. Destroyed 26 structures, damaged eight. Two people were injured. | [33] [34] | ||||
| Airline | San Benito | Caused one injury. | [35] | ||||
| Shelly | Siskiyou | Eight firefighters were injured. | [36] [37] | ||||
| Olive | Kern | [38] | |||||
| French | Mariposa | Destroyed 11 structures, damaged seven, and caused four injuries. | [39] | ||||
| Lake | Santa Barbara | Destroyed four structures, damaged one, and injured seven firefighters. | [40] [41] | ||||
| North | Modoc | [42] | |||||
| Vista | San Bernardino | Caused the evacuation of the Mt. Baldy ski resort | [43] [44] | ||||
| Mina | Mendocino | Resulted in one fatality and destroyed two structures. | [45] | ||||
| Hurricane | San Luis Obispo, Kern | [46] | |||||
| White | Kern | [47] | |||||
| SQF Lightning Complex | Tulare | Contains the Trout and Long fires. The Trout and Long fires are burning within the Domeland Wilderness. | [48] [49] [50] | ||||
| Rancho | Kern | [51] | |||||
| Rim | Lassen | [52] | |||||
| Lost Hills | Kern | Crossed over and shut down a portion of Interstate 5 near Lost Hills. | [53] [54] [55] | ||||
| Hill | Humboldt | Caused 5 injuries | [56] [57] | ||||
| Ridge | Lake, Colusa | [58] | |||||
| Eagle | Riverside | [59] | |||||
| Hawarden | Riverside | Destroyed seven homes and damaged eighteen more in Riverside. Started by fireworks. | [60] [61] [62] [63] | ||||
| Gold Complex | Plumas | Contained the Smith and Mill fires. | [64] [65] [66] | ||||
| Metz | Monterey | [67] | |||||
| Apache | Ventura | [68] | |||||
| Borel | Kern | 223 structures destroyed and 29 damaged. Prompted evacuations in Kern County and destroyed the historic community of Havilah. | [69] [70] [71] [72] | ||||
| Park | Butte, Tehama | Destroyed 637 structures and damaged 49. Started by arson. | [73] | ||||
| Nixon | Riverside, San Diego | Forced evacuations near Anza. Destroyed 23 structures and damaged three. Human caused. | [74] [75] | ||||
| Pedro | Mariposa, Tuolumne | Destroyed one structure. | [76] | ||||
| Coffee Pot | Tulare | Burning in Sequoia National Park. Started by lightning. | [77] | ||||
| Edgehill | San Bernardino | Destroyed six structures and damaged three. | [78] | ||||
| Crozier | El Dorado | [79] [80] | |||||
| Boise | Humboldt, Siskiyou | [81] |