As of September 12, 2022, nearly 50,000 wildfires have started and more than 6.5 million acres of land have been burned across the country this year, making 2022 the most active wildfire season in more than 10 years (NIFC). The fire season is continuing to be steady with 21 large uncontained fires in the U.S., a 50% increase in large uncontained fires in the past week (CDP).
Hawaii as well as parts of the Northwest, Oklahoma, and the Northeast are estimated to have above normal significant wildland fire potential this month (NOAA). Overall, we are currently in National Preparedness Level 4, meaning much of the country is experiencing wildfire activity and more than half of the nation’s wildland firefighting resources are committed (NIFC).
Some notable fires thus far have been:
- Colorado Fire (CA)
- Start Date: January 21, 2022
- 687 acres burned over 234 days
- Eastland Complex Fires (TX)
- Start Date: February 30, 2022
- A group of seven fires totaling an estimated 54,463 acres (CNN)
- Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire (NM)
- Tunnel Fire (AZ)
- Start Date: April 17th, 2022 (InciWeb)
- 19,075 acres burned and approximately 30 homes destroyed (AZ Central)
- Road 702 Fire (NE, KS)
- McKinney Fire (CA)
- Start Date: July 29, 2022
- California’s largest wildfire to date, burning more than 55,493 acres, destroying several homes, and leaving at least 2 dead (SF Gate)
- Double Creek Fire (OR)
- Start Date: August 30th, 2022
- At only 15% contained, this lightning-caused fire has already burned 155,297 acres and is estimated to be contained by October 31, 2022
Date of event: September 12, 2022
Impact:
While it is difficult to summarize the full impact of the 2022 wildfires since the year is not quite over, in California alone the impact has been:
- 9 deaths (Cal Fire)
- 800 structures damaged or destroyed (Cal Fire)
(Further information and statistics will be updated as they come in.)
Related Resources:
- Wildfire Statistics [Updated August 1, 2022]
- Federal Assistance for Wildfire Response and Recovery [Updated May 2, 2022]
- Fighting Fire with Fire: Evaluating the Role of Forest Management in Reducing Catastrophic Wildfires, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Environment of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, Second Session, March 16, 2022
HSDL Featured Topic: Wildfires
HSDL Search: Wildfires | Wildland Fires | Wildfires 2021
Photo Credit:InciWeb