Cedar Fire (2003)
San Diego County, California · Oct 25, 2003 – Nov 3, 2003
Acres burned
273,246
Lives lost
15
Structures destroyed
2,820
Year
2003
What happened
The 2003 Cedar Fire was, for years, the largest wildfire in California history and remains one of the deadliest. Santa Ana winds drove it through San Diego County, killing 15 people.
Cause
Lost hunter signal fire
Location
San Diego County, California
Key facts
- ▪Largest CA fire for nearly a decade
- ▪15 deaths
- ▪Started by a lost hunter’s signal fire
- ▪Part of the 2003 Southern California firestorm
Replay the Cedar Fire in the spread simulator
This centers the wildfire-spread simulator on the Cedar Fire’s documented ignition point and replays its conditions on 2003-10-25 — the day’s strongest wind, temperature, and humidity from the open-meteo historical archive (which set the fire-day fuel moisture) — run through the same Rothermel surface-fire model used across FireRisk. Press ▶ Simulate to watch how fire tends to move under those conditions.
⚠️ Educational reconstruction — not the real fire perimeter
This is a simplified model of how fire spreads under the 2003 conditions, not the Cedar Fire’s actual burned area, official progression, or a prediction of any current fire. It cannot account for real fuels, suppression, spotting, or how conditions changed hour to hour. For real-time fire information always follow Watch Duty, official agencies, and local authorities — and call 911 in an emergency.
Loading the 2003 fire-day conditions…
Reminder: an educational reconstruction of fire spread under the 2003 conditions — not the Cedar Fire’s actual perimeter, an official record, or a forecast. Modeled spread, direction, and timing are illustrative only. Never rely on it for any safety decision.
Could your home survive a fire like the Cedar Fire?
Check your address for a 0–100 wildfire risk score, every fire recorded nearby, and the hardening steps that change the outcome.
Related major fires
Cedar Fire FAQ
When was the Cedar Fire and where did it burn?
The Cedar Fire started Oct 25, 2003 in San Diego County, California, and was contained Nov 3, 2003.
How many acres did the Cedar Fire burn?
The Cedar Fire burned approximately 273,246 acres.
How many people died in the Cedar Fire?
Approximately 15 people died in the Cedar Fire.
What caused the Cedar Fire?
Lost hunter signal fire.
Figures are approximate and compiled from official agency reporting; totals for recent fires may still be revised. FireRisk.ai is an independent wildfire-risk service.