2015 California wildfires


By the end of 2015 a total of 8,745 wildfires were recorded across the state of California, burning. Approximately 3,159 structures were damaged or destroyed by wildfires, and at least 7 fatalities were recorded.
On September 11, after the Butte Fire exploded from a size of to, in the Amador and Calaveras counties, Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency.

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.

Nationwide fire season

The National Interagency Fire Center reported in mid-August that the 2015 fire season had been the most destructive since 2011. Nationwide, three times as much land, for a total of, had been burned since the 2014 season. By the end of August, in terms of the land area burned, the 2015 nationwide wildfire season had surpassed any other wildfire season in the last 10 years, with burned.

Fatalities

The season also proved to be a deadly one for firefighters battling the many blazes throughout the state. A United States Forest Service member from South Dakota died on July 31 from carbon monoxide poisoning, while battling the Frog Fire in the Modoc National Forest. A second firefighter was killed on August 8 by a falling tree, while battling the Sierra Fire south of Echo Summit. A 72-year-old disabled woman was killed in her home by the fast-moving Valley Fire.

List of wildfires

Below is a list of all fires that exceeded during the 2015 California wildfire season, as well as the fires that caused significant damage. The information is taken from CAL FIRE's list of large fires, and other sources where indicated.
NameCountyAcresKmStart dateContainment DateNotesRef
RoundInyoFebruary 6, 2015February 12, 2015-
HighwayRiversideApril 18, 2015April 24, 2015-
LakeSan BernardinoJune 17, 2015August 1, 2015-
Park HillSan Luis ObispoJune 20, 2015June 24, 2015-
NorthSan BernardinoJuly 17, 2015July 21, 20157 houses and 44 vehicles destroyed-
WraggNapaJuly 22, 2015August 6, 2015-
RockyLake, Colusa, YoloJuly 29, 2015August 14, 201596 structures destroyed-
Fork ComplexShastaJuly 30, 2015November 3, 2015-
River ComplexTrinityJuly 30, 2015October 29, 2015-
FrogLassenJuly 30, 2015August 20, 20151 firefighter killed-
Humboldt LightningHumboldtJuly 30, 2015August 19, 2015-
Mad River ComplexHumboldtJuly 30, 2015September 13, 2015includes Route Complex Fire-
RoughFresnoJuly 31, 2015November 5, 2015-
DodgeLassenAugust 3, 2015August 17, 2015-
GasquetDel NorteAugust 3, 2015October 15, 2015Fires: Feeder, Coon,
Bear and Peak 		-
JerusalemLake, NapaAugust 9, 2015August 25, 2015-
CabinGlendoraAugust 14, 2015November 20, 20155 structures destroyed-
CuestaSan Luis ObispoAugust 16, 2015August 28, 2015-
TeslaAlamedaAugust 19, 2015August 22, 2015-
ButteAmadorSeptember 9, 2015October 1, 20152 civilians fatalities
475 residences & 343 outbuildings destroyed		-
ValleyLakeSeptember 12, 2015October 15, 20154 civilian fatalities, 1,955 structures destroyed; 6th most destructive wildfire in modern California history -
TassajaraMontereySeptember 19, 2015September 27, 20151 civilian fatality-
SolimarVenturaDecember 25, 2015December 29, 20151 minor ankle injury-