CALIFORNIA, USA — The Park Fire burning in Butte and Tehama counties is California's largest wildfire since 2021.
After two years of relatively mild fire seasons compared to 2021 when 2.5 million acres burned and 2020 when 4.3 million acres burned, the state was bracing for an active wildfire season.
July in Northern California broke records with scorching hot temperatures. For Sacramento, there have been five 110+ degree days in July, breaking the previous records for most 110+ degree days in a month and in a year. The previous record was three 110+ degree days in a year.
July is also the month the three largest fires of the year so far began.
Here's a look at some of the largest wildfires in California over the past three years.
2024 Wildfires
Cal Fire said 4,414 wildfires have burned 467,136 acres so far this year. More acres have burned in the first seven months of 2024 than in all of 2023.
Park Fire
The Park Fire started July 24, 2024, in Butte County and moved north into Tehama County. It's burned 178,090 acres and is 0% contained.
Lake Fire
The Lake Fire started July 5, 2024, in Santa Barbara County and has burned 38,664 and is 90% contained as of July 26.
2024 SQF Lightning Complex Fire
The 2024 SQF Lightning Complex Fire started July 13, 2024, and has burned 22,326 acres in Tulare County. It's 20% contained.
Park Fire
2023 Wildfires
According to Cal Fire, more than 324,917 acres burned and there were 7,127 wildfires in 2023. Here are the three fires with the most acres burned in 2023.
Smith River Complex Fire
The Smith River Complex Fire started August 15, 2023, and burned 95,107 acres in Del Norte County.
York Fire
The York Fire started August 1, 2023, and burned 93,107 acres in San Bernardino County.
Kelly Fire
The Kelly Fire started August 15, 2023, and burned 81,148 acres in Del Norte County.
2022 Wildfires
According to Cal Fire, more than 331,358 acres burned in 2022. There were 7,477 wildfires. Here are the three fires with the most acres burned in 2022.
Mosquito Fire
The Mosquito Fire started September 6, 2022, and burned 76,788 acres in Placer and El Dorado counties.
McKinney Fire
The McKinney Fire started July 29, 2022, and burned 60,138 acres in Siskiyou County.
Fairview Fire
The Fairview Fire started September 5, 2022, and burned 28,098 acres in Riverside County.
2021 Wildfires
According to Cal Fire, seven wildfires in 2021 burned more than 100,000 acres. There were 7,396 wildfires that burned 2,569,386 acres. Here are the three fires with the most acres burned in 2021.
Dixie Fire
The Dixie Fire spread across five counties: Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Lassen and Tehama. Over the course of three months, it became the largest single wildfire in California's history, burning 963,309 acres. It sparked after a Douglas Fir tree fell and hit energized conductors owned by PG&E on July 13, 2021. More than 1,000 homes, businesses and other buildings were destroyed in the blaze.
Monument Fire
The Monument Fire started July 30, 2021, and burned 223,124 acres in Trinity County.
Caldor Fire
The Caldor Fire started August 8, 2021, and burned 221,835 acres in El Dorado, Alpine, and Amador counties.
California Fire Perimeters
Here's a map from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection of all the fire perimeters in California.
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