10 of the Largest and Deadliest Wildfires in American History
Wildfires in the United States have become increasingly frequent, deadly, and expensive each year. Climate change, coupled with human activity, has turned wildfires into uncontrollable infernos, causing widespread damage to both nature and communities.
The state of California, in particular, has borne the brunt of these catastrophic fires, with blazes constantly threatening cities like Pacific Palisades and Hollywood Hills, and even encroaching upon Hidden Hills in Calabasas. While wildfires have always been a part of America's natural landscape, their growing scale and devastation over the years tell a story of escalating fire danger.
According to the Western Fire Chiefs Association, here are 10 of the largest and most deadly wildfires in U.S. history:
Date: June 28, 2013
Location: Yarnell, Arizona
Acres Burned: 8,400 acres
Deaths: 19 people
The Yarnell Hill Fire is known as the deadliest wildfire in Arizona’s history. Although it wasn’t as large as some other wildfires on this list, it still caused significant destruction, burning through 8,400 acres. It also tragically claimed the lives of 19 firefighters. The fire was sparked by a lightning strike, but months of drought and extreme heat helped fuel its rapid spread.
AFP
Date: July 2018
Location: Colusa, Lake, Mendocino, and Glenn counties, California
Acres Burned: 459,123 acres
Deaths: 1 death
The Mendocino Complex Fire in Northern California became the state’s largest wildfire at the time, consuming over 459,000 acres. The fire started after a spark was ignited when a property owner drove a metal stake into the ground. It took nearly three months to fully contain the blaze. The fire caused one fatality but left thousands of people displaced.
AP
Date: July 2021
Location: Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Shasta, and Tehama counties, California
Acres Burned: 963,309 acres
Deaths: 1 death
The Dixie Fire, California’s second-largest wildfire, erupted in 2021 and burned nearly a million acres. It ravaged multiple counties and took months to suppress, burning through a vast landscape before it was finally contained in late October. Despite the scale, it claimed only one life.
Date: October 1871
Location: Wisconsin
Acres Burned: Over 1,000,000 acres
Deaths: Over 1,500 people
The Peshtigo Fire remains the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history, claiming more than 1,500 lives. It occurred simultaneously with the Great Chicago Fire, but it is less well-known. The fire burned an immense area of over 1 million acres in Wisconsin, and its intensity left entire communities destroyed.
Date: August 2020
Location: Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake, and Colusa counties, California
Acres Burned: 1,032,648 acres
Deaths: 1 person
The August Complex fire in California, ignited by 37 separate smaller fires, went on to become the largest wildfire in the state’s history. It burned through over 1 million acres of land, and despite its massive size, it was fortunate that only one life was lost. However, it was one of many destructive fires during the state’s 2020 fire season.
Date: February 2024
Location: Texas
Acres Burned: 1,078,086 acres
Deaths: 33 people
In February 2024, the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas devastated the Panhandle region, burning more than 1 million acres in just under three weeks. The fire’s rapid spread resulted in 33 confirmed fatalities. It highlights the growing fire risks in the state and the need for proactive measures to combat such natural disasters.
Date: 2004
Location: Alaska
Acres Burned: 1,305,592 acres
Deaths: None
The Taylor Complex Fire, burning in Alaska, was the largest wildfire in U.S. history until 2007. It scorched over 1.3 million acres, but miraculously, no lives were lost. This fire was significant not only for its size but also for being one of the first major wildfires in Alaska during a time of increasing environmental change.
Date: October 1871
Location: Michigan
Acres Burned: 2,500,000 acres
Deaths: 250 people or less
Alongside the Peshtigo Fire, the Great Michigan Fire swept through over 2.5 million acres in Michigan. Although the official death toll is uncertain, experts estimate around 250 people perished. The fire’s enormous size made it one of the largest and most destructive wildfires in the nation’s history.
Date: Summer 1910
Location: Idaho, Montana, and Washington
Acres Burned: 3,000,000 acres
Deaths: 87 people
The Great Fire of 1910 is infamous for its vast destruction, burning through 3 million acres across multiple states in just two days. The fire claimed the lives of 87 people and forever changed how the U.S. approached wildfire management. It is considered one of the most devastating fires in the history of the country.
Date: 1825
Location: Maine
Acres Burned: 3,000,000 acres
Deaths: 160 people
The Miramichi Fire, which occurred in 1825, still holds the record for the largest wildfire in U.S. history. It devastated 3 million acres across Maine and parts of Canada. The fire killed at least 160 people and displaced many more, and it remains one of the deadliest wildfires to date.