This list chronicles the top 12 destructive fires in the modern history of California, ranked by acres burned. Each entry provides insight into the magnitude and impact of these destructive wildfires, although there are other ways to measure the devastation and scope of a fire’s damage.
Sometimes, the biggest fires aren’t the most costly to human life and property. Out of the top 20 in terms of acres burned, the Camp Fire of 2018 was the deadliest in state history, leading to 85 deaths. Other fires, such as the Nuns Fire (2017) and the Palisades Fire (2025) caused thousands of structures to burn.
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