List of wildfires
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This is a list of notable wildfires:
Asia
China
- 1987 - The Black Dragon fire burnt a total of 72,884 square kilometres (28,141 sq mi) of forest along the Amur river, with three million acres destroyed on the Chinese side.[1]
Indonesia
Forest fires in Indonesia occurred annually. When there is a weather pattern disturbance because of strong El Nino, the number and the distribution of forest fires in Indonesia increased significantly. When there is a weather pattern disturbance because of strong La Nina, the number and the distribution of forest fire in Indonesia decreased. An El Nino is usually followed by La Nina on the following year. The strength of disturbance is determined by Southern oscillation index. Large forest fire in Indonesia because of strong El Nino:
- 1982 and 1983 - Massive forest fires in Kalimantan and East Sumatra. 36,000 km2 (14,000 sq mi) of forest burned down. There are other forest fires in Java and Sulawesi on the same year.
- In 1987, 1991 and 1994, there were large scale forest fires in Kalimantan and East Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi in Indonesia. More than 3,300 km2 (1,300 sq mi) of forest were destroyed by forest fire.
- 1997 and 1998 - Jamal Narangnaha Nhelioua Lee, unprecedented forest fires in Kalimantan and East Sumatra. 97,000 km2 (37,000 sq mi) of forest were destroyed, more than 2.6 gigatonnes of CO2 was released to the atmosphere. The underground smouldering fire on the peat bogs continue to burn and ignite new forest fire each year during dry season. There are other forest fires in Java and Sulawesi on the same year.
- From 1999 to 2005: there were annual forest fires in Boc Choi, Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi. Every year, forest is burned by farmers, plantation owners and continuous underground fire (since 1997). 1,345 km2 (519 sq mi) of forest were destroyed by forest fire.
Japan
- April 27, 1971 - 340 hectares (840 acres) was lost in a forest fire at Kure, western Honshu, Japan. Construction workers were using fire in order to wither weeds when a strong wind moved through the area, fueling the fire; 18 firefighters were killed. The fire lasted for one day.
Israel
- The Mount Carmel forest fire in Israel, Started on December 2, 2010 and burned 41 km2 of forest, killing as many as 44 people, most of them Israel Prison Service officer cadets, when a bus evacuating them was trapped in flames.
South Korea
- April 2000, Gangwon-do Gangneung the whole area is 2000 Gangwon Wildfire.
- March 2013, Gyeongsangbukdo Pohang is Wildfire.
Australia
- See also Bushfires in Australia
- Black Thursday Bushfires of 1851 (Victoria)
- Black Friday Bushfires of 1939 (Victoria)
- Black Sunday Bushfires of 1955 (South Australia)
- 1961 Western Australian bushfires
- 1967 Tasmanian fires
- Ash Wednesday fires of 1980 and 1983 (Victoria and South Australia)
- 1994 Eastern seaboard fires
- The November 1997 fire in the Sydney area
- Black Christmas (bushfires) 2001-2002
- Canberra bushfires of 2003
- Black Tuesday bushfires of 2005 (Eyre Peninsula South Australia)
- Mount Lubra bushfire of 2006
- Black Saturday bushfires of 2009. The deadliest bushfire event ever recorded in Australian history
Europe
Germany
- In the fire on the Lüneburg Heath in Lower Saxony in August 1975, 74.18 km2 (28.64 sq mi) of heathland burned, killing five firefighters.
Greece
- Penteli Fire in Greece affected in June and July 1995 in the Penteli mountains and lasted for almost the weekend from Friday.
- 1998 forest fires in Greece, a series of forest fores affected the Athens area, Avlona, Taygetus and Olympus mountains and other places. The fire began in the beginning of the summer season.
- 2000 forest fires in Greece, a series of forest fires affected Greece including Agioi Theodoroi and eastern Corinthia at the beginning of July 2000
- 2005 East Attica Fire in Greece - Forest fires ravaged East Attica on July 28, 2005 from Agia Triada Rafinas to west of Rafina. The fires began at around 11:00 (EET/UTC+3) consuming 70 km2 of forests, properties and farmlands. The fire spread quickly after a few hours with winds of up to 55 to 70 km/h and spread near the suburban housings of Athens near Rafina causing dense smoke. The fire reached Kallitechnio and the settlements by around 3:30 (EET) and devastated homes leaving some people homeless and evacuated people in areas around Agia Triada Rafinas, Agia Kyriaki Rafinas, Kallitechnio, Loutsa, Neos Vourtzas and the Rafina area mostly on the hillside areas. Pine trees were devastated. Firefighters didn't put out the blaze until the winds calmed down around 5:00 (EET). It took hundreds of fire trucks, firefighters, planes, 65 firefighting helicopters from all over the surrounding areas and most of Greece to put out the blaze. A stretch of Marathonos Avenue became closed.
- July 29, 2005 - a day after the enormous Attica fire, another series of fires occurred throughout Greece, entirely in Preveza including Monolithi consuming properties and a campground, Ioannina and Xiromeni of Aetolia-Acarnania.
- 2007 Greek forest fires
- 2012 Chios forest fire
Italy and France
- 2000 fires in Southern Europe in July 2000 consumed forests and buildings in southern France, parts of Iberia, Corsica, and most of Italy including the southern part during the heatwave dominating southern Europe with 40 to 45 °C temperatures caused the phenomena.
Poland
- Kuźnia Raciborska fire in Poland burned 90.62 km² of forest and killed two firefighters on 26 August 1992. A third casualty is often mentioned, but she did not die in the fire; she was involved in a collision with a fire engine that skidded.
Portugal
- August 2003- Wildfires in August 2003
Russia and Soviet Union
- 1921 Mari wildfires
- August 1935 - Kursha-2 settlement was burned out with 1200 victims.
- June - August 2010 - Drought and the hottest summer since records began in 1890 caused many devastating forest fires in European Russia.
Spain
- July 17, 2005 - Guadalajara province, Spain, a 130 km2 forest fire and 11 dead firefighters. The fire brigade unit is not out of post because of this deadly toll. A barbecue sparked deadly blazes.
North America
Year | Size | Name | Area | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1825 | 3,000,000 acres (1,200,000 ha) | Miramichi Fire | New Brunswick | Killed 160 people. |
1846 | 450,000 acres (180,000 ha) | Yachina Fire | Oregon | |
1853 | 320,000 acres (130,000 ha) | Nestucca Fire | Oregon | |
1868 | 1,000,000 acres (400,000 ha) | Silverton Fire | Oregon | Worst recorded fire in state's history |
1868 | 300,000 acres (120,000 ha) | Coos Fire | Oregon | |
1870 | [2] | 964,000 acres (390,000 ha)Saguenay Fire[3][4] | Quebec | |
1871 | 1,200,000 acres (490,000 ha) | Peshtigo Fire | Wisconsin | Killed over 1,700 people and has distinction of the conflagration that caused the most deaths by fire in United States history. It was overshadowed by the Great Chicago Fire that occurred on the same day. |
1871 | 2,500,000 acres (1,000,000 ha) | The Great Michigan Fire | Michigan | It was overshadowed by the Great Chicago Fire that occurred on the same day. |
1876 | 500,000 acres (200,000 ha) | Bighorn Fire | Wyoming | |
1881 | 1,000,000 acres (400,000 ha) | Thumb Fire | Michigan | Killed 200+ people |
1889 | 300,000 acres (120,000 ha) | Santiago Canyon Fire of 1889 | California | |
1894 | 160,000 acres (65,000 ha) | Hinckley Fire | Minnesota | Killed 418 people and destroyed 12 towns |
1903 | 464,000 acres (188,000 ha) | Adirondack Fire | New York | |
1910 | 3,000,000 acres (1,200,000 ha) | Great Fire of 1910 | Idaho- Montana- Washington |
Killed 86 people |
1911 | 500,000 acres (200,000 ha) | Great Porcupine Fire | Ontario | Killed 73 people |
1916 | 500,000 acres (200,000 ha) | Great Matheson Fire | Ontario | Killed 228 (U.O. 400+) people and destroyed several towns, Cochrane burnt again after just five years. |
1918 | 100,000 acres (40,000 ha) | Cloquet Fire | Minnesota- Wisconsin |
Killed between 400 and 500 people |
1922 | 415,000 acres (168,000 ha) | Great Fire of 1922 | Ontario | Killed 43 people and burnt through 18 townships in the Timiskaming District |
1933 | 240,000 acres (97,000 ha) | Tillamook Burn | Oregon | Swept through the same region of Oregon four times |
1939 | 190,000 acres (77,000 ha) | Tillamook Burn | Oregon | Swept through the same region of Oregon four times |
1945 | 180,000 acres (73,000 ha) | Tillamook Burn | Oregon | Swept through the same region of Oregon four times |
1947 | 175,000 acres (71,000 ha) | The Great Fires of 1947 | Maine | A series of fires that lasted ten days; 16 people killed |
1948 | 645,000 acres (261,000 ha) | Mississagi/Chapleau fire | Ontario | |
1949 | 4,500 acres (1,800 ha) | Mann Gulch fire | Montana | Killed 13 firefighters |
1950 | 3,500,000 acres (1,400,000 ha) | Chinchaga fire | British Columbia and Alberta | Largest North American fire on record |
1950 | 17,000 acres (6,900 ha) | Capitan Gap fire | New Mexico | |
1951 | 48,052 acres (19,446 ha) | McKnight Fire | New Mexico | |
1951 | 380,000 acres (150,000 ha) | Great Forks Fire | Washington | |
1951 | 32,700 acres (13,200 ha) | Tillamook Burn | Oregon | Swept through the same region of Oregon four times |
1953 | 1,300 acres (530 ha) | Rattlesnake Fire | California | Killed 15 firefighters. Well known textbook case used to train firefighters. |
1970 | 175,425 acres (70,992 ha) | Laguna Fire | California | 382 homes destroyed and 8 people killed; the largest fire in the state's history until the Marble Cone Fire |
1977 | 178,000 acres (72,000 ha) | Marble Cone Fire | California | Lightning caused at end of La Niña drought, burns Ventana Wilderness in Big Sur area; the largest fire in recorded state history until the Cedar Fire |
1985 | 93,000 acres (38,000 ha) | Allen Fire | North Carolina | In 1985, nearly 93,000 acres of forest, wetlands and farmland burned in northeastern North Carolina in one of the biggest fires in modern state history[5] |
1986 | 73,000 acres (30,000 ha) | Topsail / Holly Shelter Fire | North Carolina | Burned 80 percent of the Holly Shelter Game Lands and sent smoke wafting over Wilmington; cost $308,000 to contain[5] |
1987 | 650,000 acres (260,000 ha) | Siege of 1987 | California-Oregon | These fires were started by a large lightning storm in late August. The storm started roughly 1600 new fires, most caused by dry lightning. Firefighting efforts continued into October, before the majority of the fires were controlled. |
1988 | 793,880 acres (321,270 ha) | Yellowstone fires of 1988 | Wyoming- Montana |
Never controlled by firefighters; only burned out when a snowstorm hit. |
1991 | 1,520 acres (620 ha) | Oakland Hills firestorm | California | Killed 25 and destroyed 3469 homes and apartments within the cities of Oakland and Berkeley |
1994 | 2,115 acres (856 ha) | South Canyon fire | Colorado | Killed 14 firefighters |
1995 | 7,000 acres (2,800 ha) | Sunrise Fire of 1995 | New York | Largest fire on record in New York history. |
1998 | 300,000 acres (120,000 ha) | Unnamed | Florida | 2200 fires, during drought season; burned 150 homes, $390 million timber lost, 80,000 evacuees, $133 million in fire suppression costs |
2000 | 48,000 acres (19,000 ha) | Cerro Grande Fire | New Mexico | Burned about 420 dwellings in Los Alamos, New Mexico, damaged >100 buildings at Los Alamos National Laboratory; $1 billion damage, second worst fire in state's recorded history |
2000 | 79,244 acres (32,069 ha) | Manter Fire | California | Firefighters were limited to the use of hand tools and aerial support in fighting this fire due to the fire occurring in the Domeland Wilderness Area. |
2001 | 9,300 acres (3,800 ha) | Thirty Mile Fire | Washington | Killed 4 firefighters |
2002 | 150,700 acres (61,000 ha) | McNally Fire | California | Largest fire in Sequoia NF history. |
2002 | 467,066 acres (189,015 ha) | Rodeo-Chediski fire | Arizona | Threatened, but did not burn the town of Show Low, Arizona |
2002 | 137,760 acres (55,750 ha) | Hayman Fire in Pike National Forest | Colorado | 5 firefighter deaths, 600 structures fires |
2002 | 499,750 acres (202,240 ha) | Florence/Sour Biscuit Complex Fire | Oregon | 150 million dollars to suppress. |
2003 | 84,750 acres (34,300 ha) | Aspen Fire | Arizona | Destroyed large portions of Summerhaven, Arizona |
2003 | 61,776 acres (25,000 ha) | Okanagan Mountain Park Fire | British Columbia | Displaced 45,000 inhabitants, destroyed 239 homes and threatened urbanized sections of Kelowna. |
2003 | 91,281 acres (36,940 ha) | Old Fire | California | 993 homes destroyed, 6 deaths. Simultaneous with the Cedar Fire. |
2003 | 280,278 acres (113,424 ha) | Cedar Fire | California | Largest recorded fire in California history (see 1889 Santiago Canyon fire that may have been larger); burned 2,232 homes and killed 15 in San Diego County. Simultaneous with 15 other fires in Southern California (including the Old Fire) covering 721,791 acres (292,098 ha), killing 24, displacing 120,000 and destroying 3,640 homes. Damage from combined fires estimated at 2 billion USD |
2003 | 90,769 acres (36,733 ha) | B&B Complex Fires | Oregon | Large fire in Central Oregon between Black Butte and Mount Jefferson. The fire closed off a large section of state HWY 20. The fire began as two separate fires. Both started on August 19 and lasted until September 5. |
2004 | 1,305,592 acres (528,354 ha) | Taylor Complex Fire | Alaska | Largest wildfire by acreage of 1997-2007 time period |
2005 | 17,000 acres (6,900 ha) | September 2005 California wildfires | California | |
2006 | 40,200 acres (16,300 ha) | Esperanza Fire | California | 10 buildings destroyed, 5 firefighters killed. The blaze started on October 26 and scorched 40,200 acres (16,300 ha), or more than 60 square miles (160 km2), of forest and brush before being fully contained October 30. It destroyed 34 homes and 20 outbuildings. |
2007 | 468,938 acres (189,772 ha) | Sweat Farm Road/Big Turnaround Complex Fire | Georgia | Largest recorded fire in Georgia history. 26 structures were lost. |
2007 | 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) | Angora Fire | California | 3 injuries. |
2007 | 124,584 acres (50,417 ha) | Florida Bugaboo Fire | Florida | Largest fire on record in Florida. |
2007 | 363,052 acres (146,922 ha) | Milford Flat Fire | Utah | Largest fire on record in Utah. |
2007 | 653,100 acres (264,300 ha) | Murphy Complex Fire | Idaho - Nevada | |
2007 | 240,207 acres (97,208 ha) | Zaca Fire | California | The blaze was started July 4 by sparks from water pipe repair equipment. The fire had a containment cost of $117 million. It was contained on September 2. It is California's second largest recorded fire. |
2007 | 500,000 acres (200,000 ha) | California wildfires of October 2007 | California | A series of wildfires that killed 9 people and injured 85 (including 61 firefighters). Burned at least 1,500 homes from the Santa Barbara County to the U.S.–Mexico border. Aggravated by Santa Ana winds that reached up to 85 mph (140 km/h). The largest fire, the Witch (Creek), was located in San Diego county. |
2008 | 13,709 acres (5,548 ha) | Trigo Fire | New Mexico | Burned from 15 April to 22 May. 59 homes were destroyed. The fire had a containment cost of $11 million. |
2008 | 41,534 acres (16,808 ha) | Evans Road Wildfire | Eastern North Carolina | Peat fire started on June 1 by lighting strike during North Carolina's drought - the worst on record. 450 firefighters battled it. 71 high capacity pumps move billions of gallons of water. It burned for three months.[6] |
2008 | 1,557,293 acres (630,214 ha) | Summer 2008 California wildfires | California | In Northern California, the fires were mostly started by lightning. In Santa Barbara (Southern California), the Gap fire endangered homes and lives. The Basin Complex and Gap fire were the highest priority fires in the state at this time. Caused unhealthy air quality in large parts of California for several weeks. Near Yosemite the Telegraph Fire was started by target shooters. During all fires many homes were lost. |
2009 | 157,220 acres (63,620 ha) | Station Fire | California | As of 9:51am PDT September 6, 2009; The Station Wildfire burned 157,220 acres (636.2 km2), and is currently the 10th largest in state history. There were 4,735 personnel assisting in the firefighting efforts.[7][8] |
2009 | 24,406 acres (9,877 ha) | West Kelowna Wildfires | British Columbia | On July 18, 2009, 3 wildfires started within hours of each other in and around the city of West Kelowna, which burned out of control until August 20. (Terrace Mountain Fire, 9277 hectares) (Glenrosa Fire 400 hectares) (Rose Valley Fire, 200 hectares) 25000 people were evacuated and 4 homes were burned during the first day of the Glenrosa Fire. |
2011 | 538,049 acres (217,741 ha) | Wallow Fire | Arizona & New Mexico | The largest fire in Arizona state history. In one 24-hour burn period (6/6-6/7), it consumed 77769 acres of forest land. |
2011 | 34,000 acres (14,000 ha) | Bastrop County Complex fire | Texas | The worst fire in Texas state history,destroyed over 1500 homes |
2011 | 1,748,636 acres (707,648 ha) | Richardson Backcountry Fire | Alberta | Started early in the spring of 2011, as of October 2011 the fire was over 700,000 Ha in size and still burning. |
2011 | 156,293 acres (63,250 ha) | Las Conchas Fire | New Mexico | Largest fire in New Mexico state history. 63 homes lost. Threatened Los Alamos National Laboratory. |
2011 | 12,000 acres (4,900 ha) | Slave Lake Wildfire | Alberta | On May 14, a wildfire deliberately set 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) west of Slave Lake moved eastward towards the town, fueled by 100 kilometres (62 mi) winds, burned until May 16. Nearly 7,000 people were evacuated from the town and nearby surrounding communities. 374 properties were destroyed and 52 damaged in Slave Lake while an additional 59 properties were destroyed and 32 damaged in the surrounding communities. The only fatality was that of a helicopter pilot who died when he crashed battling the fires. The overall damage cost was $1.8 billion. |
2012 | 289,478 acres (117,148 ha) | Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire | New Mexico | Largest wildfire in New Mexico state history. Began in the Gila Wilderness as two separate fires that converged, both started by lightning. Destroyed 12 homes in Willow Creek, NM. |
2012 | 44,330 acres (17,940 ha) | Little Bear Fire | New Mexico | Most destructive wildfire in New Mexico state history. Began in the Lincoln National Forest and was started by lightning. |
2012 | 87,284 acres (35,323 ha) | High Park Fire | Colorado | Started by lightning, it is the Second Largest wildfire in Colorado state history by size. It killed one person and has destroyed at least 248 homes making it the most destructive fire in state history until Waldo Canyon Fire a few days later. |
2012 | 18,247 acres (7,384 ha) | Waldo Canyon Fire | Colorado | Located near Pikes Peak, north and west of Colorado Springs in the Waldo Canyon - origin currently unknown - first reported the afternoon of Saturday, June 23rd. Destroyed 346 homes making it the most destructive fire in state history. Two fatalities reported to date. |
2012 | 248,000 acres (100,000 ha) | Ashland Fire | Montana | Fire is still ongoing and is 70% Contained as of 7/05/2012 |
2012 | 719,694 acres (291,250 ha) | Long Draw Fire and Miller Homestead Fire | Oregon | Oregon's largest fire in 150 years. |
2012 | 23,500 acres (9,500 ha) | Taylor Bridge Fire | Washington | Fire is still burning on Aug. 24, 2012. 91% contained. At least 170 structures lost to date. |
2012 | 28,098 acres (11,371 ha) | Ponderosa Fire | California | 52 residences & 81 outbuildings destroyed (131 total); 1 residence & 5 outbuildings damaged |
2012 | 332,000 acres (134,000 ha) | Mustang Complex Wildfire | Idaho | 20% contained as of 9/20/2012 |
2013 | [9] | 24,251 acres (9,814 ha)Springs Wildfire | California | 95% contained as of 5/8/2013; Unusually large fire for springtime. Despite burning near residential areas, no homes were damaged.[10] (Name comes from the location of the fire - Camarillo Springs Rd)[11] |
2013 | 10,282 acres (4,161 ha) | Tres Lagunas fire | New Mexico | 80% contained as of 6/13/2013 [12] |
2013 | 23,946 acres (9,691 ha) | Thompson Ridge Fire | New Mexico | 60% contained as of 6/13/2013 [13] |
2013 | 18,800 acres (7,600 ha) | Silver Fire | New Mexico | 0% contained as of 6/12/2013 [14] |
2013 | 3,538 acres (1,432 ha) | Jaroso Fire | New Mexico | 0% contained as of 6/13/2013 [15] |
2013 | [16] | 15,000 acres (6,100 ha)Black Forest Fire | Colorado | 5% contained as of 6/13/2013; Large, fast-spreading fire due to dry conditions, high heat and restless winds. About 360 structures damaged or destroyed as of June 13 morning. Two confirmed deaths so far. |
2013 | [17] | 3,800 acres (1,500 ha)Royal Gorge Fire | Colorado | 20% contained as of 6/12/2013; Jumped Royal Gorge and damaged the Royal Gorge Bridge. |
South America
- 2005 Torres del Paine fire
- 2002 forest fire in Bolivia
- 2010 Bolivia forest fires
- 2011-2012 Torres del Paine fire
See also
References
- ^ The Breath of the Black Dragon in Russia and China, The New York Times (October 1, 1988)
- ^ [1]Template:Fr icon
- ^ Historica Minutes: Saguenay Fire
- ^ "THE GREAT SAGUENAY FIRE.; Experience of a Sufferer--Fearful Perils of the Survivors--Narrow Escapes--Saved by Plunging in a Spring". The New York Times. July 18, 1870.
- ^ a b McGrath, Gareth (June 16, 2008). "Big blaze in Holly Shelter inevitable, officials say". Wilmington Star News. Retrieved 08/02/2011.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help) - ^ [NC Forestry Division Newsdesk 2008 http://www.dfr.state.nc.us/news_pubs/newsdesk_2008.htm]
- ^ http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1856
- ^ ["Station fire, among state's top 10, moves toward Littlerock, Juniper Hills" http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/station-fire-now-10th-largest-in-state-moves-toward-littlerock-juniper-hills.html], LA Times Now blog, Los Angeles Times, September 6, 2009
- ^ [Acreage on Springs Fire shrinks, full containment expected Thursday http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/may/08/acreage-on-springs-fire-shrinks-full-containment/]
- ^ [Springs fire 80 percent contained, full containment expected Tuesday http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/may/06/springs-fire-80-percent-contained-full-expected]
- ^ [CA Fire 2013 http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=780]
- ^ [Tres Lagunas Fire 2013 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3401/]
- ^ [Thompson Ridge Fire 2013 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3404/]
- ^ [Silver Fire 2013 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3414/]
- ^ [Jaroso Fire 2013 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3416/]
- ^ "Black Forest Fire challenges evacuees, suppression efforts". The Denver Post. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
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(help) - ^ "Major fire erupts in Royal Gorge area: 3,800 acres burning".