Woolsey Fire (2018)
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties (Malibu), California · Nov 8, 2018 – Nov 21, 2018
Acres burned
96,949
Lives lost
3
Structures destroyed
1,643
Year
2018
What happened
The Woolsey Fire burned from the Santa Susana Mountains to the Malibu coast in November 2018, forcing the evacuation of nearly 300,000 people and destroying more than 1,600 structures.
Cause
Electrical equipment
Location
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties (Malibu), California
Key facts
- ▪Burned to the Malibu coastline
- ▪Nearly 300,000 people evacuated
- ▪Burned the same week as the Camp Fire
- ▪1,643 structures destroyed
Replay the Woolsey Fire in the spread simulator
This centers the wildfire-spread simulator on the Woolsey Fire’s documented ignition point and replays its conditions on 2018-11-08 — 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 2018 conditions, not the Woolsey 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 2018 fire-day conditions…
Reminder: an educational reconstruction of fire spread under the 2018 conditions — not the Woolsey 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 Woolsey Fire?
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Woolsey Fire FAQ
When was the Woolsey Fire and where did it burn?
The Woolsey Fire started Nov 8, 2018 in Los Angeles & Ventura Counties (Malibu), California, and was contained Nov 21, 2018.
How many acres did the Woolsey Fire burn?
The Woolsey Fire burned approximately 96,949 acres.
How many people died in the Woolsey Fire?
Approximately 3 people died in the Woolsey Fire.
What caused the Woolsey Fire?
Electrical 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.