U.S. Wildfire History
Tracking the fires that shaped wildfire risk across America — from early twentieth-century conflagrations to the record-breaking megafires of the past decade.
Wildfire history is not just a record of past disasters — it is a map of future risk. The landscapes that burned in 2002 burned again in 2012 and 2020. The wind patterns that drove the Tubbs Fire drove the Palisades Fire a decade later. Understanding which states burn, how often, and under what conditions is the foundation of intelligent wildfire preparedness, insurance planning, and community resilience.
Insurers use historical burn data to set rates and decide where to write policies. Emergency managers use it to model evacuation corridors. Homeowners who know their state’s fire history can anticipate the risk, harden their homes, and avoid being blindsided by a coverage non-renewal. Browse by state below.
Wildfire History by State
Notable Fires in U.S. History
The fires that set records, changed policy, or permanently reshaped communities.
Destroyed the town of Paradise, killing 85 people — the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history.
The largest wildfire in Texas history, burning over a million acres across the Panhandle.
California's first "gigafire" — over a million acres across the Coast Range.
The largest wildfire in Arizona history, burning in the White Mountains.
The Valley Complex and others destroyed dozens of homes — a defining Montana fire season.
The largest wildfire in New Mexico history, sparked by escaped Forest Service prescribed burns.
The largest single wildfire in Washington history, in the Methow Valley.
The historic fires that burned roughly a third of Yellowstone National Park.
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History shows which landscapes burn — our free risk score tells you whether yours is one of them.
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