Dry weather and high winds contributed to a series of wildfires that broke out in Southern California. There were 14 fires that are part of the October Fire Siege: Roblar 2, Grand Prix/Padua, Pass, Piru, Verdale, Happy, Old, Simi, Cedar, Paradise, Mountain, Otay and Wellman. The first fire (Roblar 2 Fire) was ignited in the practice range at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base at would kick off the siege. The Cedar fire would be recorded as the largest wildfire in California’s history at the time, consuming 273,246 acres and claiming 14 lives. By the time containment was reached,the fire siege had taken a drastic toll on the state. —(CalFire)
Date of event: October 2003
Impact:
- 24 fatalities
- 3,710 homes destroyed
- 750,043 acres burned
- CPI-Adjusted Estimated Cost: $3.4 billion
Related Resources
- California Fire Siege 2003: The Story
- City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department: Cedar Fire 2003: After Action Report
- President Bush Visits California–Talks to Victims of Fires: Remarks by the President to the Travel Pool
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HSDL Search: California Fire 2003
Photo: (Senior Master Sgt. Dennis W. Goff/USAF) Flames of the Simi Valley fire ravage a Southern California mountain side. This is one of many catastrophic fires that plagued Southern California.