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Wildfires can happen in many places in the United States, especially during droughts, but are most common in the Western United States and Florida. [3] They may be triggered naturally, most commonly by lightning, or by human activity like unextinguished smoking materials, faulty electrical equipment, overheating automobiles, or arson.
Wildfire burning in the Kaibab National Forest, Arizona, United States, in 2020. The Mangum Fire burned more than 70,000 acres (280 km 2) of forest. A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of combustible vegetation.
The worst loss of life in United States history due to a wildfire occurred in 1871 when the Peshtigo Fire swept through Wisconsin, killing more than 1500 people. [13] The Santiago Canyon Fire of 1889 in California and especially the Great Fire of 1910 in Montana and Idaho contributed to the philosophy that fire was a danger that needed to be ...
Controlled burns have a long history in wildland management. Fire has been used by humans to clear land since the Neolithic period. [48] Fire history studies have documented regular wildland fires ignited by indigenous peoples in North America and Australia [49] [50] prior to the establishment of colonial law and fire suppression. Native ...
It burned for three days, and while estimates vary, the consensus is that it killed more than 1,200 people – making it the deadliest wildfire in American history to this day. [31] In addition to the number of people killed, the fire burned more than 1.2 million acres of land and spread to nearby towns, where it caused even more damage.
The fire spread at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h), the fastest spreading fire in US Forest Service history. [37] 1937 1,700 acres (690 ha) Blackwater Creek Fire: Wyoming Killed 15 firefighters. [28] 1947: 175,000 acres (71,000 ha) Great Fires of 1947: Maine: A series of fires that lasted ten days; 16 people killed.
2008 – Summer 2008 California wildfires, second costliest in US history to extinguish. 2009 – Black Saturday bushfires In February, at the end of the early 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave, bushfires swept through the Australian state of Victoria killing 180 people, injuring around 500, destroying at least 2029 homes.
Western United States, Central United States, Mid-Atlantic states, Northeastern United States, Southeastern United States, Eastern Canada: 2020 Wildfire: 47 ≥$19.884 billion 2020 Western United States wildfire season: Western United States: One of the most destructive wildfire seasons recorded in the Western United States. [14] [15] 2020 ...