Since the deadliest fires in its history in 2018, California has been under fire every year

Once again, California is trying to put out the flames. Firefighters are currently battling six simultaneous fires in Los Angeles, in the west of the United States, notably in Pacific Palisades, an upscale neighborhood where Hollywood celebrities reside. At least five people died. For several years, the state which borders the Pacific Ocean has been plagued by violent fires. Since 2018, a sad record year during which 105 victims lost their lives, more than 8,500 fires have broken out.

2018, the devastating year

First in July and August, California experienced devastating fires, partly in the north of the state. The “Carr fire” alone burned more than 80,000 hectares and caused the deaths of three firefighters and five civilians. 160 km away, firefighters also spent several days fighting the “Mendocino Complex” fire, the largest fire in the history of the territory, which destroyed nearly 135,000 hectares, the equivalent of the city from Los Angeles. Nine people died.

Subsequently, in November, due to the winds, new fires broke out, notably razing the town of Paradise, north of San Francisco. The “Woolsey fire”, in the western suburbs of Los Angeles, also reached the famous seaside resort of Malibu. Its intensity, combined with that of the “Hill fire” further west, caused the evacuation of nearly 300,000 residents and caused the death of three people. But the “Camp fire”, an even bigger fire, also ravaged northern California. In total, 85 deaths were recorded.

2019, several fires causing three deaths

Although the following year was calmer, it nevertheless experienced numerous destructive fires from May to November. The “Walker fire” in Nevada devastated nearly 22,000 hectares. The one called the “Saddleridge fire” burned more than 3,500 hectares, while the “Kincade” fire, west of Sacramento, attacked more than 30,000 hectares at the end of October. In total, during this year, three people died and 22 were injured.

2020, the year of “Creek fire”

The year 2020 also plunged California into fear. Particularly at the end of the year, in September, struggling to overcome the “Creek fire”, which destroyed more than 150,000 hectares. All this, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. In mid-October, more than 19,000 firefighters were still working to put out the fire, which was finally 100% contained in December, according to The New York Times . More than 30 people died. At the same time, in September, the “El Dorado fire” burned more than 9,000 hectares of forest, caused by a pyrotechnic device during an evening.

2021, the turn of the “Dixie fire”

In July 2021, the “Dixie fire” then put firefighters to the test for three months in southern California. More than 5,000 professionals took turns day and night to control the flames. In total, 300,000 hectares were burned, and eight people died. A fire caused by a severe drought experienced that summer.

2022, several localities affected

The year 2022 was also affected by several fires. Notably, again, in July, where more than 2,500 firefighters fought the flames of a fire “explosive», “Oak fire”, in the forested hills of central California, near the famous Yosemite National Park. The fire spread over more than 7,000 hectares, with flames reaching heights of up to 30 meters.

A few weeks later, in September, firefighters had to face another fire, that of the “Mosquito fire”, which ravaged more than 31,000 hectares in the vicinity of Sacramento. Unlike previous years, 2022 and 2023 suffered less from drought. Thus, at the same period, in the south of the State, heavy rains, fueled by a tropical storm, allowed firefighters to regain control of the “Fairview fire”, which had left two dead and burned 11,300 hectares. near Los Angeles.

2023, the “Rabbit fire” in the south of the state

The flames of four very violent fires ruined nearly 3,500 hectares of land in Southern California in the middle of July. The four fires were 60 kilometers from each other. The region they devastated, about a hundred kilometers southeast of Los Angeles, is fortunately sparsely populated. The largest fire, called the “Rabbit fire,” burned more than 3,300 hectares, or about a third of the surface area of ​​Paris.

2024, repeat

Last year saw numerous fire outbreaks in California. Despite this, only one death was recorded during the Mina fire last July. But the most impressive was that of the “Park fire”, in northern California, which broke out at the end of July. More than 4,000 local residents had to be evacuated. It was brought under control two months later after the efforts of 3,700 firefighters. In total, the flames destroyed more than 173,000 hectares.