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Wildfires in the U.S.

By RobertHarrison

  • Miramichi Fire

    Miramichi Fire
    The Miramichi Fire was a series of fires around the forests and communities throughout New Brunswick. About 160 died in and around Newcastle.

  • The Great Fires of 1871

    The Great Fires of 1871
    In 1871, during the week of October 8-14, multiple fires broke loose in the upper Midwest. The Great Peshtigo Fire, left more than 1500 dead, the most deaths by a fire in U.S. history.

  • Great Hinckley Fire

    Great Hinckley Fire
    The Great Hinckley Fire was a major fire in the pine-forests of Minnesota in September 1894. It destroyed nearly 200,000 acres of land. The official death count was 418, but most believe it was higher.

  • Great Fire of 1910

    Great Fire of 1910
    Also named the Big Burn, is the largest single fire recorded in U.S. history. It burned over 3 million acres in Idaho, Montana, and Washington. 87 people died, and 78 of them were firefighters.

  • Cloquet Fire

    Cloquet Fire
    The 1918 Cloque Fire was a massive fire in Minnesota. It was caused by sparks from the railroad and dry conditions. 453 people died and 52,000 people were injured or lost, 250,000 acres destroyed, and 73 million (1.15 billion in today's money) was lost.

  • Yellowstone fires of 1988

    Yellowstone fires of 1988
    This fire was the largest fire at Yellowstone in U.S. history. It was caused by dry conditions, and lasted several months. A total of 793,880 acres, or 36 percent of the park was affected by the wildfires. Only 2 fire related deaths were recorded. The firefighting effort cost $120 million ($240 million in 2016).

  • Oakland Firestorm

    Oakland Firestorm
    The Oakland firestorm of 1991 was a large suburban wildland-urban interface conflagration that occurred on the hillsides of northern Oakland, California, and southeastern Berkeley on October 20, 1991. The fire ultimately killed 25 people and injured 150 others, and it was estimated to cost 1.5 billion.

  • California's Cedar Fire of 2003

    California's Cedar Fire of 2003
    The Cedar Fire was a wildfire which burned over 280,000 acres of land in San Diego County, California in during October and November 2003. 15 people died, including 1 firefighter.

  • Taylor Complex Fire

    Taylor Complex Fire
    The Taylor Complex Fire was a 2004 wildfire in Alaska that consumed approximately 1,305,592 acres of land. It was the largest wildfire in the United States between 1997-2007.

  • 2007 California Wildfires

    2007 California Wildfires
    The 2007 California Wildfire Season saw over 9,000 separate wildfires that destroyed 1,087,110 acres of land. 14 people died, 160 people were injured, and 124 of them were firefighters.