2006 California wildfires


There were 8,202 fires that burned of land in the US state of California in 2006.

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

Below is a list of all fires that exceeded during the 2006 fire season. The list is taken from CAL FIRE's list of large fires.
NameCountyAcresKmStart dateContained DateNotes
SierraRiversideFebruary 6, 2006February 6, 2006-
HotlumSiskiyouFebruary 25, 2006February 27, 20064 structures destroyed-
TorchFresnoMay 13, 2006May 14, 2006-
StuhrStanislausMay 26, 2006May 26, 2006-
AlpaughTulareMay 27, 2006May 27, 2006-
PerkinsSanta BarbaraJune 19, 2006June 26, 20067 structures destroyed-
Boulder ComplexPlumasJune 25, 2006July 5, 20062 structures destroyed-
Observation ComplexLassenJune 25, 2006June 30, 2006-
GoodaleInyoJune 26, 2006June 29, 2006-
Yolla BollyTehamaJune 27, 2006June 27, 2006-
Del PuertoStanislausJune 30, 2006July 3, 2006-
PedroTuolumneJuly 3, 2006July 5, 2006-
Pushwalla ComplexRiversideJuly 7, 2006July 10, 2006-
Happy ComplexModocJuly 9, 2006July 9, 20062 firefighter fatalities-
CanyonStanislausJuly 9, 2006July 17, 200611 structures destroyed-
Sawtooth ComplexSan BernardinoJuly 9, 2006July 20, 2006273 structures destroyed, 1 civilian fatality-
Millard Fire AssistRiversideJuly 9, 2006July 9, 2006-
BeckSan Luis ObispoJuly 11, 2006July 12, 2006-
MidwayAlamedaJuly 11, 2006July 11, 2006-
CreekLassenJuly 18, 2006July 21, 2006-
CoytoeTulareJuly 20, 2006July 21, 2006-
OliveMercedJuly 21, 2006July 21, 2006-
RiccoMontereyJuly 22, 2006July 27, 2006-
Three RocksFresnoJuly 22, 2006July 22, 2006-
HorseSan DiegoJuly 23, 2006August 1, 2006-
Happy CampSiskiyouJuly 23, 2006September 24, 2006-
Uncles ComplexSiskiyouJuly 23, 2006October 31, 20061 structure destroyed-
Oorleans ComplexHumboldtJuly 24, 2006September 30, 20061 structure destroyed-
EmpireLos AngelesJuly 25, 2006July 25, 2006-
HunterMendocinoJuly 26, 2006July 26, 2006-
HoySiskiyouJuly 26, 2006July 28, 20061 structure destroyed-
Bar ComplexTrinityJuly 27, 2006July 27, 2006-
SageModocJuly 27, 2006August 5, 2006-
JunctionTrinityJuly 29, 2006July 29, 20061 structure destroyed-
KingsleyTehamaAugust 2, 2006August 2, 2006-
CottonwoodKernAugust 5, 2006August 6, 2006-
QuailLos AngelesAugust 13, 2006August 16, 20062 structures destroyed-
PigeonTrinitySeptember 2, 2006October 16, 2006-
DayVenturaSeptember 4, 2006October 2, 200611 structures destroyed-
RalstonPlacerSeptember 5, 2006September 18, 20062 structures destroyed-
SawmillMonoSeptember 14, 2006September 15, 20062 structures destroyed-
OrchardRiversideSeptember 16, 2006September 16, 2006-
RanchRiversideSeptember 17, 2006September 17, 2006-
PinnaclesSan BernardinoSeptember 19, 2006September 21, 2006-
BassettsSierraSeptember 19, 2006September 26, 2006-
NobleMendocinoSeptember 24, 2006September 30, 2006-
PhelpsFresnoOctober 25, 2006October 25, 2006-
EsperanzaRiversideOctober 26, 2006October 31, 200654 structures destroyed,
5 firefighters and 1 civilian killed		-
ShekellVenturaDecember 3, 2006December 5, 20067 structures destroyed-
WestsideKernDecember 7, 2006December 9, 2006-