Kincade Fire (2019)

Sonoma County, California · Oct 23, 2019Nov 6, 2019

Acres burned

77,758

Lives lost

0

Structures destroyed

374

Year

2019

Evacuations

~190,000 people evacuated

What happened

The Kincade Fire was the largest wildfire in Sonoma County history, prompting the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people and large-scale precautionary power shutoffs across Northern California.

Cause

PG&E transmission line

Location

Sonoma County, California

Key facts

  • Largest fire in Sonoma County history
  • ~190,000 people evacuated
  • Caused by PG&E equipment
  • Triggered mass public-safety power shutoffs

Replay the Kincade Fire in the spread simulator

This centers the wildfire-spread simulator on the Kincade Fire’s documented ignition point and replays its conditions on 2019-10-23 — 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 2019 conditions, not the Kincade 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 2019 fire-day conditions…

Reminder: an educational reconstruction of fire spread under the 2019 conditions — not the Kincade 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 Kincade 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

Kincade Fire FAQ

When was the Kincade Fire and where did it burn?

The Kincade Fire started Oct 23, 2019 in Sonoma County, California, and was contained Nov 6, 2019.

How many acres did the Kincade Fire burn?

The Kincade Fire burned approximately 77,758 acres.

How many people died in the Kincade Fire?

Approximately 0 people died in the Kincade Fire.

What caused the Kincade Fire?

PG&E transmission line.

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.