Wildfire History

Wildfire Facts

Studies estimate that approximately 85% of wildfires in the United States are caused by human causes, including arson, unattended campfires, trash fires, and discharged cigarettes.

The US Forest Service spends approximately $1.2 billion annually in California to suppress fires. Unfortunately, funding means the U.S. Forest Service must divert earmarked funds for wildfire prevention and other divisional activities toward fighting wildfires.

Wildfires have grown more intense over the years, partly because of droughts and past wildfire suppression policies that allowed increased fuel loads to build up on the land. They are also becoming more lethal and destructive because of an increasing number of people living within fire-prone areas. As a result, these fires are igniting more easily, spreading faster at hotter temperatures, and destroying homes in unprecedented numbers.

The Top 5 list below describes the costliest fires in US history. All but one of the fires on this list occurred this century.