Dixie Fire (2021)
Northern Sierra (Butte, Plumas, Lassen), California · Jul 13, 2021 – Oct 25, 2021
Largest single (non-complex) wildfire in California historyAcres burned
963,309
Lives lost
1
Structures destroyed
1,329
Year
2021
Duration
~3.5 months
What happened
The Dixie Fire is the largest single (non-complex) wildfire in recorded California history, burning nearly a million acres across five counties and destroying the historic town of Greenville.
Cause
PG&E equipment
Location
Northern Sierra (Butte, Plumas, Lassen), California
Key facts
- ▪Largest single wildfire in CA history
- ▪Nearly 1 million acres
- ▪Destroyed the town of Greenville
- ▪Burned for over 3 months
Replay the Dixie Fire in the spread simulator
This centers the wildfire-spread simulator on the Dixie Fire’s documented ignition point and replays its conditions on 2021-07-13 — 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 2021 conditions, not the Dixie 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 2021 fire-day conditions…
Reminder: an educational reconstruction of fire spread under the 2021 conditions — not the Dixie 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.
Aftermath & what changed
The Dixie Fire deepened PG&E’s wildfire-liability crisis and demonstrated how drought-stressed Sierra forests can sustain a single fire across nearly a million acres for months.
Could your home survive a fire like the Dixie 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
Dixie Fire FAQ
When was the Dixie Fire and where did it burn?
The Dixie Fire started Jul 13, 2021 in Northern Sierra (Butte, Plumas, Lassen), California, and was contained Oct 25, 2021.
How many acres did the Dixie Fire burn?
The Dixie Fire burned approximately 963,309 acres.
How many people died in the Dixie Fire?
Approximately 1 person died in the Dixie Fire.
What caused the Dixie Fire?
PG&E equipment.
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.