2021 California wildfires
Smoke from multiple wildfires in California
Date(s)	January 14 – December 16
Statistics[1]
Total fires	7,396
Total area	2,569,386 acres (1,039,794 ha)
Impacts
Deaths	3
Non-fatal injuries	22
Structures destroyed	3,846
Damage	Unknown
Map
A map of wildfires in California in 2021, using Cal Fire data
Season
← 2020 2022 →

By the end of 2021, a total of 7,396wildfires burned 2,569,386 acres (1,039,794 ha) across theU.S. state ofCalifornia.^[2] Approximately 3,629 structures were damaged or destroyed by the wildfires, and three firefighters died during the wildfire season.^[3]

The wildfire season in California experienced an unusually early start amid anongoing drought and historically low rainfall and reservoir levels.^[4] In January 2021 alone, 297 fires burned 1,171 acres (4.74 km²) on nonfederal land according to theCalifornia Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which is almost triple the number of fires and more than 20 times the acreage of the five-year average for January.^[5][4] The January fires were exacerbated by unseasonably strongSanta Ana winds, and some of them burned in the same areas as previous fires like theCZU Lightning Complex.^[6]

The long term trend is thatwildfires in the state are increasing due toclimate change in California.^[7][8] The 2021 wildfire season was exceptionally severe in California, although it did not approach the extent of theprevious year's wildfire season, which was the largest season in the state's recorded history. As of July 11, more than three times as many acres have burned compared to the previous year through that date, with drought,extreme heat, and reduced snowpack contributing to the severity of the fires.^[9][10][11] The state also faces an increased risk of post-wildfire landslides.^[12][13]

As of August 18, 2021, the state of California was facing "unprecedented fire conditions" as multiple fires including theDixie Fire,McFarland Fire,Caldor Fire, and others, raged on.^[14] TheUSDA Forest Service temporarily closed all of California'snational forests at the end of August to mitigate the impact of potential fires.^[15]

On October 18, 2021, much of the state—particularly Northern California, where the majority of the significant fires had been located—received its first major precipitation since the start of the wildfire season.^[16] This significantly lowered wildfire risk in the region.

The timing of "fire season" in California is variable, depending on the amount of prior winter and spring precipitation, the frequency and severity of weather such as heat waves and wind events, and moisture content in vegetation.Northern California typically sees wildfire activity between late spring and early fall, peaking in the summer with hotter and drier conditions. Occasional cold frontal passages can bring wind and lightning. The timing of fire season in Southern California is similar, peaking between late spring and fall. The severity and duration of peak activity in either part of the state is modulated in part by weather events: downslope/offshore wind events can lead to critical fire weather, while onshore flow and Pacific weather systems can bring conditions that hamper wildfire growth.^[17][18]

This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(July 2021)

PG&E and other utility companies preemptively spent billions of dollars to reduce the risk of wildfires and avoid an year similar to theprevious year's fire season.^[6][19] Firefighters have also set prescribed fires to prevent other fires burning.^{[20][21][22][23]} During evacuations from the Lava Fire, anillegal marijuana farmer was shot and killed by police after brandishing a firearm at authorities, while "defending his farm".^[24][25]

A 2023 study found that these wildfires are affecting the California ecosystem and disrupting the habitats.^[26][27] It found that in the 2020 and 2021 fire seasons 58% of the area affected by wildfires occurred in those two seasons since 2012.^[26][28] These two fires destroyed 30% of the habitat of 50 species as well as 100 species that had 10% of their habitats burn. 5-14% of the species' habitats burned at a "high severity."^[26][29]

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

• Maps of significant wildfires in 2021 in California
• 
  Dixie Fire
• 
  McCash Fire
• 
  River Fire
• 
  Caldor Fire
• 
  Windy Fire
• 
  KNP Complex Fire
• 
  Fawn Fire

• List of California wildfires

• Current fire information —California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)

• 2021 California wildfires
• Effects of climate change
• Lists of wildfires in the United States
• Wildfires in California by year

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