Catastrophic wildfires fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds have been sweeping through Southern California since Tuesday, January 8, 2025, killing at least 24 people, displacing over 200 000 residents, and destroying more than 12 000 homes and buildings. In addition, more than 360 000 customers, or just over 1 million people in California were left without power.
Three wildfires broke out in southern California’s Los Angeles County, burning through nearly 1 600 ha (4,000 acres) in less than a day, prompting tens of thousands to evacuate and damaging multiple structures.
The Mountain Fire has burned through 8 287 ha (20 485 acres) of land since it broke out on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. The blaze has destroyed several homes and left six people injured, including one firefighter.
The Mountain Fire broke out in Ventura County on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, and rapidly burned through 5 726 ha (14 148 acres) of land by 19:46 LT on the same day. Containment remains at 0% with the blaze standing at a size of 607 ha (1 500 acres) and being engaged by at least 800 firefighters.
The Bridge Fire, which has burned through over 21 360 ha (52 800 acres) across Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, is only 3% contained as of late Friday (LT), September 13, 2024. The fire has destroyed 33 homes and continues to threaten thousands more, according to officials.
The Park Fire in California grew to the state’s 5th largest wildfire on July 30, 2024, and wreaked havoc across four counties, destroying 277 structures and displacing over 4 000 residents. With only 18% containment, the blaze continues to threaten thousands of homes, prompting a state of emergency declaration.
4 people have been killed and more than 100 structures destroyed as the McKinney Fire in Siskiyou County’s Klamath National Forest, northern California rapidly spread into the state’s largest fire of the season.
Oak Fire started on July 22, 2022, in California’s Mariposa County and rapidly spread to more than 6 314 ha (15 603 acres) over the next 3 days. As of early July 25, it was 0% contained.
A wildfire that started on June 28, 2022, near North San Juan in the Rice’s Crossing area, Nevada County, California has already burned 200 ha (500 acres) of land and several structures. Evacuations were ordered for areas near Rice’s Crossing and Cranston roads.
Intense thunderstorms rolled through California, U.S. on June 22, 2022, producing more than 50 000 lightning strikes within 24 hours – the most in a single day since 2017. While the lightning strikes started multiple wildfires, one of them struck a woman and her two dogs killing them on the spot.
