2001 California wildfires

| |

| Trough Fire

|

| Leonard Fire

| Creek Fire

|

| Hoover Complex Fire

Several fires burn on either side of California's Central Valley in a photograph taken from the Space Shuttle on August 20, 2001

Statistics
Total fires| 9,317
Total area| 377,340 acres
152,700 ha
Impacts
Deaths| 2+
Structures destroyed| 389+
Damage| US$196 million ($109m in suppression costs and $87.3m in damages, per Cal Fire estimates)
Season

← 2000

2002 →

According to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) statistics, 9,317 wildfires burned a total of 377,340 acres (152,700 hectares) in the US state of California in 2001.[1]

The largest wildfire of the year in California was the Observation Fire in Lassen County, which burned 67,700 acres, and the most destructive was the Poe Fire in Butte County, which burned 133 structures.[2] Cal Fire wildfire suppression costs for fires that burned within the agency's jurisdiction amounted to US$109 million. Damages for the same amounted to $87.3 million, with a total of 389 structures lost.[3] At least two fatalities occurred, both of them on the Bell Fire in San Diego County.[2]

## Narrative

[edit]

An unusually warm, dry, and windy May prompted Cal Fire to declare May 22 the beginning of fire season throughout the state, the point in the year at which the agency hires seasonal staff to be at the ready round-the-clock in California forest districts.[4] The pattern continued through June, with fires active weeks in advance of the 'usual' beginning of fire season.[5]

The National Interagency Fire Center declared that the country had reached National Preparedness Level 5 (the point at which incidents across the country had the "potential to exhaust all agency fire resources") on August 15, 2001, with the bulk of the fires in California Oregon, and Nevada.[6]

Cal Fire firefighting aircraft were temporarily grounded on September 11 by the ground stop order issued nationwide by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to the deadly September 11 attacks in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) eventually instructed firefighting agencies to apply for exemptions as needed, and the restriction (which began at about 10:00 a.m.) was lifted after about three hours, when the FAA granted Cal Fire's request for exemption. The restriction affected aircraft on the Poe Fire in Butte County, among others.[7][8]

All Cal Fire units were declared "off season" by December 3.[3]

## List of wildfires

[edit]

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 hectares), produced significant structural damage or casualties, or were otherwise notable. It is excerpted from Cal Fire's 2001 list of large (≥ 300 acres) fires, and may not be complete or reflect the most recent information.[2]

Name  | County  | Acres  | Start date  | Containment date  | Notes  | Ref

|
|
|
|
|
|

Viejas  | San Diego | 10,353 | January 3, 2001 | January 8, 2001 | Caused by smoking; destroyed 16 structures, damaged 13 | [9]
Jones  | Siskiyou | 1,440 | May 9, 2001 | May 14, 2001 | Caused by debris |
Devil  | Lassen | 4,400 | May 27, 2001 | June 1, 2001 | Caused by equipment use  |
165  | Merced | 1,500 | June 13, 2001 | June 13, 2001 | Cause undetermined  |
Jackson  | Amador | 2,240 | June 13, 2001 | June 13, 2001 | Caused by welding; destroyed 15 structures, damaged 1 |
SNF-562  | Merced | 1,200 | June 13, 2001 | June 13, 2001 |  |
Hemlock  | San Bernardino | 1,074 | June 14, 2001 | June 20, 2001 | Caused by an escaped burn  |
Pacheco  | Merced | 1,550 | June 16, 2001 | June 17, 2001 | Caused by a vehicle  |
Martis  | Nevada | 14,500 | June 17, 2001 | July 1, 2001 | Caused by a campfire  |
Watkins  | Riverside | 1,407 | June 23, 2001 | June 24, 2001 | Caused by arson  |
McLaughlin  | Inyo | 2,900 | July 2, 2001 | July 5, 2001 | Caused by lightning  |
Hoover Complex  | Mariposa | 8,007 | July 13, 2001 |  | Caused by lightning; was allowed to burn in Yosemite National Park for ecological reasons  | [10]
Reche  | Riverside | 1,798 | July 22, 2001 | July 23, 2001 | Caused by a vehicle  |
Stream  | Lassen | 3,560 | July 26, 2001 | July 26, 2001 | Caused by lightning  |
Trough  | Lake, Glenn, Colusa | 24,970 | August 8, 2001 | August 20, 2001 | Cause undetermined; destroyed 30 structures |
Cowhead  | Modoc | 1,670 | August 8, 2001 | August 9, 2001 | Caused by lightning  |
Modoc Complex  | Modoc | 5,367 | August 8, 2001 | August 8, 2001 | Caused by lightning  |
Shaffer  | Lassen | 1,100 | August 8, 2001 | August 8, 2001 | Caused by lightning  |
Observation  | Lassen | 67,700 | August 9, 2001 | August 12, 2001 | Caused by lightning  |
Blue Complex  | Modoc | 37,950 | August 9, 2001 | August 10, 2001 | Caused by lightning  |
(Emigrant) Gap  | Nevada, Placer | 2,462 | August 12, 2001 | August 17, 2001 | Caused by human activity  | [11]
Crater  | Mono | 5,800 | August 12, 2001 | August 15, 2001 | Caused by lightning  |
Buzz  | Modoc | 2,206 | August 12, 2001 | August 12, 2001 | Caused by lightning  |
Ponderosa  | Placer | 2,780 | August 17, 2001 | August 23, 2001 | Caused by a vehicle  |
Creek  | Mariposa, Tuolumne | 11,095 | August 18, 2001 | August 24, 2001 | Caused by arson; destroyed 43 structures  |
Leonard  | Calaveras | 5,167 | August 19, 2001 | August 25, 2001 | Caused by equipment use; destroyed 22 structures  |
Highway  | Fresno | 4,152 | August 19, 2001 | August 29, 2001 | Caused by arson; destroyed 8 structures  |
North Fork  | Madera | 2,930 | August 20, 2001 |  |  |
Star  | El Dorado | 16,761 | August 25, 2001 | September 22, 2001 |  |
Oregon  | Trinity | 1,680 | August 28, 2001 | August 31, 2001 | Cause undetermined; destroyed 33 structures and caused evacuations in the town of Weaverville | [10]
Hyampon  | Trinity | 1,065 | August 31, 2001 | September 5, 2001 | Cause undetermined  |
Darby  | Calaveras | 14,280 | September 5, 2001 | September 24, 2001 | Cause undetermined  |
Poe | Butte | 8,333 | September 6, 2001 | September 12, 2001 | Caused by tree into PG&E power lines, destroyed 133 structures in the Yankee Hill area  | [12]
Happy Camp Complex  | Siskiyou | 8,500 | September 14, 2001 | October 10, 2001 | Caused by lightning  |
Stables  | Los Angeles | 6,544 | October 12, 2001 | October 15, 2001 |  |
Highway 70  | Butte | 1,711 | October 24, 2001 | October 26, 2001 | Caused by arson  |
Bell  | San Diego | 1,204 | December 8, 2001 | December 11, 2001 | Cause undetermined; 2 fatalities  |

## See also

[edit]

* California portal

* List of California wildfires

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "California Wildfires and Acres for all Jurisdictions" (PDF). California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. August 24, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
2. ^ a b c "2001 Large Fires, 300 Acres And Greater" (PDF). California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. February 5, 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2004.
3. ^ a b "CDF 2001 Fire Season Summary" (PDF). California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. March 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 13, 2003. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
4. ^ "Fire season declared". The Record. May 23, 2001. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
5. ^ Gold, Scott; Bailey, Eric (June 19, 2001). "Firefighters Battle Blazes as Wildfire Season Comes Early". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
6. ^ Cain, Brad (August 16, 2001). "Officials: Conflagration roars to crisis level". The Desert Sun. Associated Press. Retrieved January 9, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Aircraft groundings hamstring Butte County firefighting effort". Oakland Tribune. Associated Press. September 12, 2001. Retrieved January 18, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ Hecht, Peter (September 12, 2001). "State gets clearance to resume firefighter flights". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved January 18, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Viejas Wildfire". NASA Earth Observatory. January 6, 2001. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
10. ^ a b "Star & Oregon Fires". NASA Earth Observatory. August 31, 2001. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
11. ^ "A Panoramic View of the Emigrant Gap Fire, California". NASA Earth Observatory. September 7, 2001. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
12. ^ Olson, Ryan; Vau, Terry (February 22, 2006). "Settlement reached in aftermath of Poe fire". Chico Enterprise-Record. Retrieved January 9, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), Statistics and Events

* v
* t
* e

California wildfires

Pre-2007|

* Santiago Canyon (1889)
* Berkeley (1923)
* Matilija (1932)
* Griffith Park (1933)
* Rattlesnake (1953)
* Harlow (1961)
* Bel Air (1961)
* Loop (1966)
* Laguna (1970)
* Clampitt (1970)
* Marble Cone (1977)
* Agoura-Malibu (1978)
* Panorama (1980)
* 49er (1988)
* Painted Cave (1990)
* Tunnel (1991)
* Fountain (1992)
* Cleveland (1992)
* Kinneloa (1993)
* Laguna (1993)
* Mount Vision (1995)
* Pendola (1999)
* Jones (1999)
* Storrie (2000)
* Poe (2001)
* Wolf (2002)
* Copper (2002)
* Biscuit (2002)
* McNally (2002)
* Curve (2002)
* Williams (2002)
* Old (2003)
* Simi (2003)
* Cedar (2003)
* Power (2004)
* Rumsey (2004)
* Topanga (2005)
* Sawtooth Complex (2006)
* Day (2006)
* Esperanza (2006)

2007|

* Island
* Angora
* Zaca
* Moonlight
* October 2007 wildfires
* Buckweed
* Harris
* Witch
* Santiago
* Rice
* Corral

2008|

* Summit
* Indians
* Basin Complex
* Klamath Theater Complex
* Gap
* Telegraph
* Sesnon
* Tea
* Sayre
* Freeway Complex

2009|

* Jesusita
* La Brea
* Lockheed
* Station
* Guiberson

2010|

* Bull
* West
* Crown

2011|

* Lion
* Comanche Complex

2012|

* Reading
* Chips
* Barry Point
* Rush
* Ponderosa

2013|

* Summit
* Springs
* Powerhouse
* Mountain
* Silver
* Rim
* Clover

2014|

* Colby
* Etiwanda
* May 2014 San Diego County wildfires
* Tomahawk
* Poinsettia
* Cocos
* Shirley
* Butts
* Bully
* Happy Camp Complex
* Meadow
* King
* Boles

2015|

* Round
* Lake
* North
* Wragg
* Rocky
* Mad River Complex
* Humboldt Complex
* Frog
* Rough
* Jerusalem
* Cuesta
* Butte
* Valley
* Tassajara

2016|

* Sherpa
* Border
* San Gabriel Complex
* Erskine
* Trailhead
* Sand
* Soberanes
* Cold
* Pilot
* Chimney
* Clayton
* Blue Cut
* Rey
* Bogart
* Canyon
* Loma

2017|

* Gate
* Holcomb
* Schaeffer
* Salmon August Complex
* Manzanita
* Winters
* Alamo
* Wall
* Whittier
* Garza
* Detwiler
* Empire
* Parker 2
* Young
* Pier
* Railroad
* Ponderosa
* Mud
* Slinkard
* Helena
* La Tuna
* Palmer
* Mission
* October 2017 Northern California wildfires
* Atlas
* Tubbs
* Canyon 2
* December 2017 Southern California wildfires
* Thomas
* Creek
* Rye
* Skirball
* Lilac

2018|

* Lions
* Lane
* Pawnee
* Waverly
* County
* Klamathon
* Valley
* Georges
* Ferguson
* Natchez
* Carr
* Cranston
* Mendocino Complex
* Whaleback
* Donnell
* Holy
* Hirz
* Delta
* Camp
* Woolsey

2019|

* Sand
* West Butte
* Tucker
* Mountain
* Tenaja
* Walker
* Taboose
* Lime
* Red Bank
* South
* Lone
* Sandalwood
* Saddleridge
* Nustar
* Kincade
* Tick
* Getty
* Easy
* Maria

2020|

* Quail
* Grant
* Crews
* Soledad
* Mineral
* 2020 Lassen County wildfires
* Gold
* Loyalton
* Red Salmon Complex
* Apple
* August 2020 lightning wildfires
* Lake
* Dome
* River
* CZU Lightning Complex
* SCU Lightning Complex
* August Complex
* LNU Lightning Complex
* North Complex
* SQF Complex
* Dolan
* Creek
* El Dorado
* Bobcat
* Slater/Devil
* Oak
* Glass
* Zogg
* Silverado
* Mountain View
* Bond

2021|

* Palisades
* Willow
* Lava
* Tennant
* Salt
* Beckwourth Complex
* Tamarack
* Dixie
* McFarland
* Monument
* River Complex
* McCash
* Antelope
* River
* Caldor
* French
* KNP Complex
* Windy
* Fawn

2022|

* Colorado
* Electra
* Washburn
* Oak
* McKinney
* Red
* Route
* Border 32
* Mill
* Fairview
* Mosquito
* SRF Lightning Complex

2023|

* Rabbit
* Deep
* Pika
* York

2024|

* Corral
* Lake
* Post
* Point
* Thompson
* Borel
* Basin
* Park
* Nixon
* Pedro
* Boise
* Coffee Pot
* Line
* Bridge
* Airport
* Mountain
* Franklin

2025|

* January 2025 Southern California wildfires
* Palisades
* Eaton

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Largest California wildfires

1. August Complex (2020) (1,032,648 acres, 4,178.98 km2)
2. Dixie (2021) (963,309 acres, 3,898.37 km2)
3. Mendocino Complex (2018) (459,123 acres, 1,858.00 km2)
4. Park (2024) (428,808 acres, 1,735.32 km2)
5. SCU Lightning Complex (2020) (396,624 acres, 1,605.08 km2)
6. Creek (2020) (379,895 acres, 1,537.38 km2)
7. LNU Lightning Complex (2020) (363,220 acres, 1,469.9 km2)
8. North Complex (2020) (318,935 acres, 1,290.68 km2)
9. Santiago Canyon (1889) (~300,000 acres, 1,200 km2)
10. Thomas (2017) (281,893 acres, 1,140.78 km2)
11. Cedar (2003) (273,246 acres, 1,105.79 km2)
12. Rush (2012) (271,911 acres, 1,100.38 km2 in California)
13. Rim (2013) (257,314 acres, 1,041.31 km2)
14. Zaca (2007) (240,207 acres, 972.08 km2)
15. Carr (2018) (229,651 acres, 929.36 km2)
16. Monument (2021) (223,124 acres, 902.95 km2)
17. Caldor (2021) (221,835 acres, 897.73 km2)
18. Matilija (1932) (220,000 acres, 890 km2)
19. River Complex (2021) (199,359 acres, 806.78 km2)
20. Witch (2007) (197,990 acres, 801.2 km2)

Note: The Santiago Canyon Fire dates before 1932, when reliable fire records began.
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