2000 California wildfires


According to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection statistics, 7,622 wildfires burned a total of in the US state of California in 2000. Cal Fire wildfire suppression costs for fires that burned within the agency's jurisdiction amounted to $109 million. Damages for the same amounted to $87.3 million, with a total of 389 structures lost. The largest wildfires of the year in California were the Manter and Storrie fires, which burned 74,000 and 55,000 acres in Tulare and Plumas counties respectively.

Background

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.

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than, produced significant structural damage or casualties, or were otherwise notable. It is excerpted from Cal Fire's 2001 list of large fires, and may not be complete or reflect the most recent information.
NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment dateNotesRef
TownGlenn1,500Caused by an escaped controlled burn
CabbageMendocino1,540
BerryessaNapa5,731Caused by equipment use; destroyed 15 structures
BarrettSan Diego2,000
GraniteMariposa2,000Caused by shooting
GoatLassen1,084Caused by a campfire
BarkSiskiyou1,715
ShellSan Luis Obispo6,300
Plaskett IIMonterey5,830Caused by camper trying to light a stove
Happy CampInyo5,500
ManterTulare74,439At the time the largest recorded fire in Sequoia National Forest; destroyed 15 structures
MorganLake3,283
PachengaRiverside11,900
Golden IIMono2,150Caused by lightning
ChanceKern1,200Caused by lightning
KingKern3,243Caused by lightning
NorthforkSan Benito1,773Caused by equipment use
RomeroMerced1,200
StorriePlumas55,261Caused by Union Pacific railroad track repairs
HunterMariposa8,084Caused by equipment use
HarrisSanta Barbara9,700
ConcowButte1,835Caused by equipment use; destroyed 16 structures, killed 1
WeinsteinTehama8,284Caused by an escaped controlled burn
HiddenLake4,500Caused by an electrical power system