Fires in California, The United States

Wildfires spread across California between July and December, displacing thousands of people and leaving 104 dead. A national disaster was declared in August, but in November strong winds worsened the situation further, destroying an estimated 18,000 buildings. Three fires swept across the towns of Paradise in the north, and two other fires occurred in the Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

The fires are a result of warm temperatures in a region which has experiences no rain for a month. Wind caused the fire outbreaks to spread. More than 9,000 firefighters worked to contain the fires, which burnt over 766,000 hectares of land.

The town of Paradise particularly suffered in the disaster, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have reported that it will take years to rebuild the town.

California often experiences wildfires in the summer and early autumn, but fires such as these leave some experts concerned that a changing climate may make the fires more common throughout the year.

Related News and Resources

• Fire disaster in California – DLR supports with FireBIRD data (DLR)
• Fires in California (SERTIT)