Putting California’s Rim Fire in context

04/10/2023

Largest wildfires in California since 1932

10) Basin Complex (Monterey, 6/2008)

9) Laguna (San Diego, 7/1970)

8) Marbe Cone (Monterey, 7/1977)

7) Rim (Tuolumne, 8/2013)

6) Klamath Theater Complex (Siskiyou, 6/2008)

5) Witch (San Diego, 10/2007)

4) Matilija (Ventura, 9/1932)

3) Zaca (Santa Barbara, 7/2007)

2) Rush (Lassen, 10/2012)

1) Cedar (San Diego, 10/2003)

0 100,000 200,000 300,000

Acres burned

7 of the 10 biggest fires have occurred in past decadeStructures / lives lost

2,820 / 14

0 / 0

1 / 0

0 / 0

1,650 / 2

0 / 2

111 / 0

0 / 0

382 / 5

58 / 0

Still burning

Source: CAL FIRE

Largest wildfires in California since 1932

10) Basin Complex (Monterey, 6/2008)

9) Laguna (San Diego, 7/1970)

8) Marbe Cone (Monterey, 7/1977)

7) Rim (Tuolumne, 8/2013)

6) Klamath Theater Complex (Siskiyou, 6/2008)

5) Witch (San Diego, 10/2007)

4) Matilija (Ventura, 9/1932)

3) Zaca (Santa Barbara, 7/2007)

2) Rush (Lassen, 10/2012)

1) Cedar (San Diego, 10/2003)

0 100,000 200,000 300,000

Acres burned

7 of the 10 biggest fires have occurred in past decadeStructures /

lives lost

2,820 / 14

0 / 0

1 / 0

0 / 0

1,650 / 2

0 / 2

111 / 0

0 / 0

382 / 5

58 / 0

Still burning

Source: CAL FIRE

Acres burned and number of wildfires in California

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

450,000

500,000

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

Acres

Source: CAL FIRE

Acres burned and number of wildfires in California

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

450,000

500,000

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

Acres

Source: CAL FIRE

Number of California wildfires by cause

Misce

llane

ous

Und

eter

min

ed

Deb

ris bu

rnin

g

Equip

men

t use

Arson

Ligh

tnin

g

Vehic

le

Power

line

Smok

ing

Campfi

re

Playing

with

fire

Railroa

d0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

2011

2012

5-year average

Source: CAL FIRE

Number of California wildfires by cause

Misce

llane

ous

Und

eter

min

ed

Deb

ris bu

rnin

g

Equip

men

t use

Arson

Ligh

tnin

g

Vehic

le

Power

line

Smok

ing

Campfi

re

Playing

with

fire

Railroa

d0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

2011

2012

5-year average

Source: CAL FIRE

Acres burned by U.S. wildfires: Jan. 1 to Aug. 28

Source: National Interagency Fire Center

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2004

-201

2 av

e...

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

7,000,000

8,000,000

Millions

So far, 2013 has been well below average

Acres burned by U.S. wildfires: Jan. 1 to Aug. 28

Source: National Interagency Fire Center

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2004

-201

2 av

erag

e0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

7,000,000

8,000,000

ecowest.org

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