Most Destructive Wildfires

The Palisades and Eaton Fires both may end up as #2 and #3 respectively in terms of structure loss

Prior to the colossally devastating 2018 Camp Fire (which still holds the #1 record) that destroyed 18,000+ buildings and killed 85 people and 2017 when the Tubbs Fire romped through Sonoma County and took 5,636 structures and 22 lives with it – the single most destructive fire in California history for nearly 3 decades was the tiny but devastating Tunnel Fire in the Oakland Hills which had destroyed 2,900 structures and killed 25 people.

Before 2017, the most destructive wildfire in California history was the Tunnel Fire of 1991 followed closely by the Cedar Fire of 2003. All Santa Ana/Diablo Wind driven, by the way.

Not many other areas in America have experienced such massive destruction from wildfires in modern history. Even the insanely deadly fire in Lahaina “only” destroyed 2,200+ structures. I think the single most destructure fire may very well still be the Camp Fire.

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