The 13 Worst Wildfires in American History

This wildfire started in early September as a result of drought, hurricane-force winds, heat, and the ecological damage that was the result of the logging techniques of that time. Also known as the Great Forest Fire of 1881, the blaze killed over 275 people and destroyed more than 3,000 buildings.

These fires are known as some of the most destructive on record in the state of Oregon. They were part of an especially destructive wildfire season that year. These fires were responsible for the deaths of 33 people and the destruction of thousands of homes in the region.

The Taylor Complex Fire was part of Alaska’s record breaking fire season in 2004. At the time, it was the single largest wildfire in the United States between 1997 and 2007. This fire played a large role in Alaska’s fire season that year, which saw a total of 6.6 million acres burned.

Drought was largely responsible for much of the destruction in Montana caused by a series of fires. Fortunately, rain and snow slowed what would have been an even more devastating blaze.

The Peshtigo Fire was an especially large forest that covered most of the southern half of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This fire is often overshadowed by the Great Chicago Fire that occurred on the same day, despite the fact that the Peshtigo Fire claimed over 1,200 lives, five times as many as the Great Chicago Fire.

Like most fires of that era, hot and dry summer conditions played a role in the fire. While there is not much to go off of in terms of historical accounts for this fire, the measured area affected ranks it as the biggest in the history of the state.

The 2008 season was considered one of the most devastating in the history of the state. Even though there were only 6,255 fires, only two-thirds as many as the year before, the damage was significantly greater. While 1 million acres burned in 2007, more than 60% that number burned in 2008.

A series of wildfires raged across South Carolina and North Carolina in mid February. Reports at the time indicate that 14 people were killed in the blaze, and numerous homes and sawmills were destroyed. Strong 40 mile per hour winds precipitated even more wildfires in the region.

Some reports detail this fire as being started by lightning or even a meteor shower, a long dry summer, and the logging practices of the day contributed fuel. This blaze was fanned on by the same winds that contributed to the Great Chicago Fire and the Peshtigo Fire. The deaths from this fire are unknown but are estimated above 500.

This is commonly referred to as the Big Blowup or the Big Burn. This fire did not last particularly long, only two day, but it was incredibly devastating. The fire consumed entire towns in the Northwest region and contributed to the deaths of 86 people, mostly firefighters.

The Great Fire of Miramichi was a massive forest fire that devastated communities in the upper East Coast. At least 160 people died in the blaze and thousands were left homeless as the fire tore through lumber camps on both sides of the Miramichi river. The fire spilled over into Canada and eventually helped define the border between the U.S. and its neighbor to the North.

This was the worst fire season in the history of Texas, with over 31,000 fires spanning 4 million acres, which was double the previous record. The fire losses were the worst in Texas history and only compounded the $5.2 billion damage caused by the severe drought of that year.

The 2020 wildfire season in California was considered the worst in U.S. history. Nearly 10,000 fires raged across the state, affecting over 4 million acres, or roughly 4% of the entire state. These fires destroyed over 11,000 structures and caused just over $12 billion in damage, consisting of $10 billion in property damage and $2 billion in fire suppression costs.