2020 Western United States Wildfires

Severe storms coupled with dry conditions and high winds ignited a number of wildfires across the Western United States in the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, and Colorado. In the course of several months, over 8.2 million acres have been burned, over 10,000 structures destroyed, and at least 37 people killed. (Geographic Area Coordination Center, Center for Disaster Philanthropy)

Full containment of fires still burning is not expected until at least the end of December 2020.

Date of event: July 24, 2020-Present

Notable fires include:

California

• SCU Lightning Complex: August 18, 2020-October 1, 2020
  • 396,624 Acres
  • 26 Structures Damaged; 222 Destroyed
  • 6 Injuries
• CZU August Lightning Complex: August 8, 2020-September 22, 2020
  • 86,509 Acres
  • 140 Structures Damaged; 1,490 Destroyed
  • 1 Injury; 1 Fatality
• Creek Fire: September 4, 2020-ECD December 31, 2020
  • 379,895 Acres
• North Complex: August 17, 2020-November 30th, 2020
  • 318,935 acres
  • 2,455 Structures Damaged/Destroyed
  • 16 Fatalities
• Bobcat Fire: September 6, 2020-
  • 115,796 acres
  • 47 Structures Damaged; 170 Destroyed
  • 6 Injuries
• Glass Fire: September 27, 2020-October 20, 2020
  • 67,484 Acres
  • 282 Structures Damaged; 1,555 Destroyed
• August Complex: August 17, 2020-November 15, 2020
  • 1,032,648 Acres
• Zogg Fire: September 27, 2020-October 13, 2020
  • 56,338 Acres
  • 27 Structures Damaged; 204 Destroyed
  • 1 Injury; 4 Fatalities

Colorado

• Cameron Peak Fire: August 13, 2020-December 5, 2020
  • 208,913 Acres
  • 67 Structures Damaged; 461 Destroyed
• East Troublesome Fire: October 14, 2020-November 30, 2020
  • 193,812 Acres
• Pine Gulch Fire: July 31, 2020-September 15, 2020
  • 139,007 Acres

Oregon

• Alameda Fire: September 8, 2020-
  • 2,500-3,000 Acres
  • 57 Structures Damaged; 2,357 Destroyed
  • 3 Fatalities
• Archie Creek Fire (9/8/2020-10/31/2020), Riverside Fire (9/8/2020-12/4/2020), Holiday Farm Fire (9/7/2020-10/29/2020), Beachie Creek Fire (08/16/2020-10/31/2020, Lionshead Fire (8/16/2020-10/30/2020)
  • Accumulative 841,031 acres
  • FEMA Major Disaster Declaration September 15, 2020

Related Resources:

• Wildfire Statistics [Updated November 3, 2020]
• Colorado Wildfire Resource Guide
• 2020 Wildfire Season: Brief Overview of FEMA Programs and Resources [Updated August 28, 2020]
• Maintaining Critical Infrastructure Resilience to Natural Hazards During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Hurricane Preparations by US Energy Companies

HSDL Featured Topic: Wildfires

HSDL Search: Wildfires

Photo Credit: U.S. National Weather Service