According to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) statistics, 7,622 wildfires burned a total of in the US state of California in 2000. Cal Fire wildfire suppression costs for fires that burned within the agency's jurisdiction amounted to $109 million. Damages for the same amounted to $87.3 million, with a total of 389 structures lost. The largest wildfires of the year in California were the Manter and Storrie fires, which burned 74,000 and 55,000 acres in Tulare and Plumas counties respectively.
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 The following is a list of fires that burned more than , produced significant structural damage or casualties, or were otherwise notable. It is excerpted from Cal Fire's 2001 list of large (≥ 300 acres) fires, and may not be complete or reflect the most recent information.
NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment dateNotesRefTown Glenn1,500Caused by an escaped controlled burnCabbage Mendocino 1,540 Berryessa Napa 5,731 Caused by equipment use; destroyed 15 structuresBarrett San Diego 2,000 Granite Mariposa 2,000 Caused by shootingGoat Lassen 1,084 Caused by a campfireBark Siskiyou 1,715 Shell San Luis Obispo 6,300 Plaskett II Monterey 5,830 Caused by camper trying to light a stoveHappy Camp Inyo 5,500 Manter Tulare 74,439 At the time the largest recorded fire in Sequoia National Forest; destroyed 15 structuresMorgan Lake 3,283 Pachenga Riverside 11,900 Golden II Mono 2,150 Caused by lightningChance Kern 1,200 Caused by lightningKing Kern 3,243 Caused by lightningNorthfork San Benito 1,773 Caused by equipment useRomero Merced 1,200 Storrie Plumas 55,261 Caused by Union Pacific railroad track repairsHunter Mariposa 8,084 Caused by equipment useHarris Santa Barbara 9,700 Concow Butte 1,835 Caused by equipment use; destroyed 16 structures, killed 1Weinstein Tehama 8,284 Caused by an escaped controlled burnHidden Lake 4,500 Caused by an electrical power system
See also
List of California wildfires
Notes
References
External links California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), Statistics and Events