Witch Fire (2007)
San Diego County, California · Oct 21, 2007 – Nov 13, 2007
Acres burned
197,990
Lives lost
2
Structures destroyed
1,650
Year
2007
Evacuations
~500,000 people evacuated
What happened
The Witch Fire was the centerpiece of the 2007 Southern California firestorm, forcing one of the largest evacuations in California history — roughly half a million people across San Diego County.
Cause
SDG&E power lines
Location
San Diego County, California
Key facts
- ▪~500,000 evacuated — among the largest in CA history
- ▪Caused by SDG&E power lines
- ▪Part of the 2007 SoCal firestorm
- ▪Reshaped utility wildfire liability in San Diego
Replay the Witch Fire in the spread simulator
This centers the wildfire-spread simulator on the Witch Fire’s documented ignition point and replays its conditions on 2007-10-21 — 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 2007 conditions, not the Witch 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 2007 fire-day conditions…
Reminder: an educational reconstruction of fire spread under the 2007 conditions — not the Witch 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 Witch 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
Witch Fire FAQ
When was the Witch Fire and where did it burn?
The Witch Fire started Oct 21, 2007 in San Diego County, California, and was contained Nov 13, 2007.
How many acres did the Witch Fire burn?
The Witch Fire burned approximately 197,990 acres.
How many people died in the Witch Fire?
Approximately 2 people died in the Witch Fire.
What caused the Witch Fire?
SDG&E power lines.
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.