2017 California wildfires

In terms of property damage, 2017 was the most destructive wildfire season on record in California at the time, surpassed by only the 2018 season and the 2020 season, with a total of 9,560 fires burning of land, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, including five of the 20 most destructive wildland–urban interface fires in the state's history. Throughout 2017, the fires destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 structures in the state (destroyed 9,470, damaged 810), a higher tally than the previous nine years combined. State data showed that the large wildfires killed 47 people – 45 civilians and 2 firefighters – almost higher than the previous 10 years combined. The total property damage and total amount of burned land were both surpassed by the 2018 California wildfires.

Throughout the early months of 2017, there was heavy rainfall over most of California, which triggered widespread flooding, thus temporarily mitigating the state's historic drought conditions. However, according to a report published by the National Interagency Fire Center, the potential for large fires was "expected to remain near normal through the spring, but once fine fuels dry out, there will likely be a spike in grass fire activity."

In December 2017, strong Santa Ana winds triggered a new round of wildfires, including the massive Thomas Fire in Ventura County. At the time, the Thomas Fire was California's largest modern wildfire, which has since been surpassed by the Mendocino Complex's Ranch Fire in 2018. The December 2017 fires forced over 230,000 people to evacuate, with the 6 largest fires burning over and more than 1,300 structures.

During the year, 5 of the 20 most destructive wildfires in the state's history burned between October and December: #1 Tubbs, #6 Nuns, #7 Thomas, #11 Atlas, and #17 Redwood Valley. The wildfires collectively caused at least $18.0 billion (2018 USD) in damages, including $13.2 billion in insured losses, $3 billion in other economic losses, and $1.8 billion in fire suppression costs, making the 2017 California fires the second-costliest on record. The total economic cost, including fire suppression, insurance, direct and indirect economic losses, and recovery expenditures is estimated at $180 billion (2017 USD). This number includes economic harm to the wine industry, where several wineries in Napa and Sonoma were destroyed, and where many wine grapes were severely damaged by smoke. Cal Fire spent $700 million during fiscal year 2017, far exceeding the approximately $426 million the agency had budgeted that year for fire suppression. This made 2017 the most expensive firefighting year on record in California state history.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2017 will be remembered as a year of extremes. It was the third-warmest year on record for the United States, and it was the second-hottest in California, bringing to the surface the question of long-term climate change and its contribution to the 2017 California fires. The hotter temperatures dry out vegetation, making them easier to burn, predisposing vulnerable regions like California to more wildfires in the coming decades as temperatures continue to rise and rainfall continues to decline. Historically, it has been estimated that prior to 1850, about 4.5 million acres (17,000 km²) burned yearly, in fires that lasted for months.

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.

Wildfire maps This section contains maps of the locations and burn areas of the fires that occurred during the largest outbreaks of the season. The burn areas of some major fires are included in some of the maps.

List of wildfires Below is a list of all fires that exceeded during the 2017 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.

Name County Acres Start date Containment Date NotesRefJayne Fresno5,738April 20, 2017April 21, 2017Opera Riverside1,350April 30, 2017May 2, 2017Elm Fresno10,345May 18, 2017May 21, 2017Gate San Diego2,056May 20, 2017May 23, 2017OakwoodMadera 1,431June 10, 2017June 13, 2017HighwayKern 1,522June 18, 2017June 28, 2017HolcombSan Bernardino 1,503June 19, 2017June 29, 2017SchaefferTulare16,031June 24, 2017August 10, 2017Salmon August ComplexSiskiyou65,888June 25, 2017December 8, 2017ManzanitaRiverside 6,309June 26, 2017June 30, 2017HillSan Luis Obispo 1,598June 26, 2017June 30, 20174 homes destroyed WintersYolo 2,269July 6, 2017July 12, 2017 AlamoSan Luis Obispo 28,687July 6, 2017July 19, 2017 1 home destroyed, 1 damaged WallButte 6,033July 7, 2017July 17, 2017 41 homes, 48 outbuildings destroyed, 10 damaged WhittierSanta Barbara 18,430July 8, 2017October 5, 201716 homes, 30 outbuildings destroyed, 7 damagedParkfield Monterey1,816July 8, 2017July 11, 2017Garza Fresno48,889July 9, 2017July 21, 20171 structure destroyed Long ValleyLassen83,733July 11, 2017July 21, 2017 DetwilerMariposa81,826July 16, 2017August 24, 2017 63 homes, 68 structures destroyed (131 total), 21 damagedModoc July ComplexModoc83,120July 24, 2017August 16, 2017Orleans ComplexSiskiyou27,276July 25, 2017September 26, 2017EmpireMariposa6,370August 1, 2017November 27, 2017Parker 2Modoc 7,697August 3, 2017August 29, 2017YoungSiskiyou2,500August 7, 2017August 28, 2017Merged into the Eclipse Complex's Oak fireSouth ForkMariposa7,000August 13, 2017November 27, 2017BlaineRiverside 1,044August 13, 2017August 16, 2017Eclipse ComplexSiskiyou78,698August 15, 2017November 29, 2017PierTulare36,556August 29, 2017November 29, 2017RailroadMadera12,407August 29, 2017October 24, 20175 homes, 9 structures destroyedPonderosaButte4,016August 29, 2017September 9, 201732 homes, 22 outbuildings, 15 damagedMudLassen6,042August 29, 2017September 1, 2017SlinkardMono8,925August 29, 2017September 12, 2017HelenaTrinity21,846August 30, 2017November 15, 2017133 structures destroyedLa TunaLos Angeles7,194September 1, 2017September 9, 20175 homes, 5 structures destroyedPalmerRiverside 3,874September 2, 2017September 6, 2017MissionMadera1,035September 3, 2017September 13, 2017 4 structures destroyedBuck Trinity13,417September 12, 2017November 20, 2017Lion Tulare18,900September 24, 2017December 2, 2017CanyonRiverside2,662September 25, 2017October 4, 20176 structures damagedCherokeeButte8,417October 8, 2017October 16, 2017AtlasNapa/Solano51,624October 8, 2017October 31, 20176 fatalities, 785 structures destroyed, 40 damagedTubbsNapa/Sonoma36,807October 8, 2017October 31, 201722 fatalities, 1 injured, 5,643 structures destroyedNunsSonoma56,556October 8, 2017October 30, 2017Merged with the Norrbom, Adobe, Partrick, Pressley, and Oakmont Fires. 3 fatalities, 1,200 structures destroyedRedwood ValleyMendocino36,523October 8, 2017October 28, 20179 fatalities, 43 injured, 545 structures destroyedPeter Fimrite & Kurtis Alexander, 17-year-old dies of burns, becomes 43rd victim of California wildfires, San Francisco Chronicle (October 30, 2017).La PorteButte6,151October 9, 2017October 18, 2017CascadeYuba9,989October 9, 2017October 18, 20174 fatalities, 143 residential, 123 outbuildings destroyedSulphurLake2,207October 9, 2017October 26, 2017150 structures destroyedCanyon 2Orange9,217October 9, 2017October 18, 201725 structures destroyed, 55 structures damaged37Sonoma1,660October 9, 2017October 13, 2017 Pocket Sonoma17,357October 9, 2017October 31, 2017LoboNevada821October 9, 2017October 18, 2017At least 30 structures destroyedBearSanta Cruz391October 16, 2017October 27, 20177 injuries, 4 structures destroyedBuffalo FireSan Diego1,088October 17, 2017November 14, 2017Burned on Camp Pendleton. WildomarRiverside866October 27, 2017October 29, 2017ThomasVentura/Santa Barbara281,893December 4, 2017January 12, 20181,063 structures destroyed, 280 structures damaged, 2 firefighters injured, 1 firefighter and 1 civilian killedCreekLos Angeles15,619December 5, 2017January 9, 2018123 buildings destroyed, 81 buildings damaged, 3 firefighters injuredRyeLos Angeles6,049December 5, 2017December 12, 20176 buildings destroyed, 3 structures damaged, 1 firefighter injuredLittle MountainSan Bernardino260December 5, 2017December 7, 2017 3 injuriesSkirballLos Angeles422December 6, 2017December 15, 20176 structures destroyed, 12 structures damaged, 3 firefighters injuredLilacSan Diego4,100December 7, 2017December 16, 2017157 structures destroyed, 64 structures damaged, 3 firefighters and 4 civilians injuredLibertyRiverside300December 7, 2017December 9, 20177 structures destroyed

October Northern California wildfires

During the month of October, a series of wildfires broke out throughout Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Butte counties during severe fire weather conditions, effectively leading to a major red flag warning from much of the northern California area. In the extreme conditions, small fires quickly grew to become massive conflagrations spanning from 1,000 to well over 20,000 acres within a single day. The fires destroyed an estimated 8,900 structures, killed at least 44 people, burned over of land, and forced over 20,000 people to evacuate.

December Southern California wildfires

Multiple wildfires ignited in December across Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, Santa Barbara Counties. The fires were exacerbated by unusually powerful and long-lasting Santa Ana winds as well as large amounts of dry vegetation grown, due to large amounts of precipitation earlier in the year. The fires burned over , and caused traffic disruptions, school closures, hazardous air quality conditions, and massive power outages. California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti declared a state of emergency for the city. The largest fire was the Thomas Fire, which grew to 281,893 acres, becoming California's largest modern wildfire at the time, since surpassed by the Mendocino Complex's Ranch Fire in 2018.

2017 California wildfires

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