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Wildfires are devastating in many ways. From burning hundreds of thousands of acres of land and destroying countless structures to causing extreme monetary damage, California wildfires cause nearly immeasurable damage in rural and urban areas across the state. To better understand the damage caused by wildfires in California and increase awareness of the importance of wildfire prevention, it’s important to take a look at the numbers behind the worsening wildfires that the state has experienced over the past several years. Here’s a closer look at California wildfire damage over the past few decades, including acreage burned, structures destroyed, and financial losses caused by these disasters.

Featured Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/54144402@N03/42851954035/in/photostream/ California has experienced countless destructive wildfires over the past several years, but few compare to the devastation caused by the Mendocino Complex Fire—the second-largest wildfire in California history. Composed of two separate fire incidents—the Ranch Fire and the River Fire—the Mendocino Complex Fire impacted several communities throughout the Mendocino and Lake Counties, destroying hundreds of thousands of acres of land and hundreds of structures. So, what caused this disaster and how much damage did these communities actually suffer?

California is one of the states most affected by wildfires. Every year, the state is devastated by wildfires that burn hundreds of thousands of acres of land, worsen the air quality, and destroy both commercial and residential structures. In 2020 alone, CAL FIRE estimates that over four million acres were burned, 10,488 structures were destroyed, and 33 lives were lost. Due to worsening climate conditions, California’s fire season is longer than ever, and it’s likely that the state will experience more frequent and severe wildfires in the years to come. This is supported by the fact that five of the largest wildfires in California history occurred in this past year alone.

There might not be much you can do to prevent wildfires, but you can take proactive steps to protect your home from damage during wildfire season. Creating defensible space around your property provides a buffer between your home and surrounding vegetation. This can significantly reduce the chance that your home ignites due to drifting embers and help slow the spread of approaching fires. Here’s everything you need to know about how to create wildfire defensible space.

Over 30 million homes are at low to extreme vulnerability to wildfires in California. If you live in an area affected by wildfires, using fire-resistant building materials and implementing effective home hardening techniques are two great ways to protect your home and belongings. Here’s everything you need to know.

California’s devastating wildfires often create very hazardous conditions for local residents. Even if the fires themselves are not expected to hit your area, the resulting smoke and air pollutants are often enough to force evacuations. Unfortunately, many California residents are not properly prepared to face an evacuation order, making an already stressful situation even more difficult. By preparing an evacuation plan ahead of time, California residents can gain peace of mind, protect their home from potential wildfire damages, and ensure they don’t leave anything important behind. Here’s a fire evacuation checklist and resources to help you prepare for evacuation.