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Wildfires in the United States, by state

The national record since 1996 · Wildfire

NOAA's Storm Events Database records 9,593 wildfire records in the United States from 1996 through June 30, 2026, about 339 a year since 2000. California records the most (1,592), Hawaii the most per square mile. The deadliest storm in NOAA's record since 1996 is Lahaina Fire (August 8, 2023) in Hawaii: 102 deaths, 32 injuries and $5.4 billion in damage in 2025 dollars.

What is a wildfire? How the National Weather Service files it

Any significant forest fire, grassland fire, rangeland fire, or wildland-urban interface fire that consumes the natural fuels and spreads in response to its environment. “Significant” is defined as a wildfire that causes one or more fatalities, one or more significant injuries, and/or property damage (optional: include significant damages to firefighting equipment if loss estimates are available). Professional judgment should be used in deciding to include a Wildfire in Storm Data.
National Weather Service Instruction 10-1605, Storm Data Preparation (July 26, 2021), Appendix A, entry 53

Source: National Weather Service Instruction 10-1605. Read the instruction (PDF).

Wildfires, 1996 to 2026

Records per year (NOAA Storm Events); 2026 to June 30, 2026.

  • recorded, no damage figure
  • under $10 million
  • $10 million or more
  • $100 million or more
  • $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
  • $10 billion or more, or 1,000 deaths
  • a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
  • a year with a death
Records
9,5931996 to June 30, 2026
A year since 2000
339average
Deaths
533recorded
Damage, 2025 dollars
$50.1BStorm Events, as filed

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.

Which states have the most wildfire records?

By count California (1,592), Texas (1,491), Oregon (742) lead. Per 10,000 square miles Hawaii (441), New Jersey (241), Puerto Rico (137) lead; large states collect more records by covering more ground.

By count since 1996

  1. California 1,592
  2. Texas 1,491
  3. Oregon 742
  4. Colorado 668
  5. Oklahoma 604
  6. Washington 542
  7. Florida 488
  8. Idaho 431
  9. Arizona 315
  10. Hawaii 283
  11. Montana 269
  12. Georgia 215
  13. Arkansas 178
  14. New Jersey 177
  15. Wyoming 165

Per 10,000 square miles

  1. Hawaii 441
  2. New Jersey 241
  3. Puerto Rico 137
  4. California 102
  5. Florida 91
  6. Oklahoma 88
  7. Delaware 87
  8. Washington 82
  9. Oregon 77
  10. Colorado 64
  11. Texas 57
  12. Idaho 52
  13. Georgia 37
  14. Arkansas 34
  15. Arizona 28

Source: Land area: Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer; places under 1,000 square miles are not ranked per square mile.

Alabama: 2.0 per 10,000 sq miAlaska: 1.3 per 10,000 sq miArizona: 28 per 10,000 sq miArkansas: 34 per 10,000 sq miCalifornia: 102 per 10,000 sq miColorado: 64 per 10,000 sq miConnecticut: 2.1 per 10,000 sq miDelaware: 87 per 10,000 sq miFlorida: 91 per 10,000 sq miGeorgia: 37 per 10,000 sq miHawaii: 441 per 10,000 sq miIdaho: 52 per 10,000 sq miIllinois: 4.0 per 10,000 sq miIndiana: 2.2 per 10,000 sq miIowa: 3.9 per 10,000 sq miKansas: 11 per 10,000 sq miKentucky: 12 per 10,000 sq miLouisiana: 6.2 per 10,000 sq miMaryland: 21 per 10,000 sq miMassachusetts: 13 per 10,000 sq miMichigan: 5.1 per 10,000 sq miMinnesota: 3.4 per 10,000 sq miMississippi: 1.1 per 10,000 sq miMissouri: 15 per 10,000 sq miMontana: 18 per 10,000 sq miNebraska: 11 per 10,000 sq miNevada: 3.9 per 10,000 sq miNew Hampshire: 1.1 per 10,000 sq miNew Jersey: 241 per 10,000 sq miNew Mexico: 13 per 10,000 sq miNew York: 7.2 per 10,000 sq miNorth Carolina: 6.8 per 10,000 sq miNorth Dakota: 5.2 per 10,000 sq miOklahoma: 88 per 10,000 sq miOregon: 77 per 10,000 sq miPennsylvania: 19 per 10,000 sq miSouth Carolina: 8.0 per 10,000 sq miSouth Dakota: 11 per 10,000 sq miTennessee: 1.2 per 10,000 sq miTexas: 57 per 10,000 sq miUtah: 17 per 10,000 sq miVermont: 2.2 per 10,000 sq miVirginia: 11 per 10,000 sq miWashington: 82 per 10,000 sq miWest Virginia: 13 per 10,000 sq miWisconsin: 5.7 per 10,000 sq miWyoming: 17 per 10,000 sq mi
  • 1.1-3.9
  • 3.9-11
  • 11-17
  • 17-64
  • 64+
Wildfires per 10,000 square miles by state since 1996. Each class holds about a fifth of the states; Alaska and Hawaii are drawn as insets, not to scale.

Every state

Wildfire risk by state: FEMA's model

The record above counts what happened. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates what each state can expect to lose to wildfires in an average year, from history, exposure and vulnerability: California carries the largest expected annual loss ($1.8B), then Arizona and Colorado.

  1. California $1.8B
  2. Arizona $228M
  3. Colorado $211M
  4. Utah $197M
  5. Washington $173M
  6. Nevada $157M
  7. Idaho $143M
  8. Oregon $126M
  9. Texas $126M
  10. New Mexico $113M
  11. Florida $112M
  12. Montana $73M
  13. Oklahoma $60M
  14. Kansas $50M
  15. Hawaii $47M

Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), county expected annual loss summed by state; a model, not a count. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

When is fire season?

Wildfires by month, nationally. The busiest month is July.

The values, month by month

Jan 287 · Feb 481 · Mar 969 · Apr 823 · May 614 · Jun 941 · Jul 1,648 · Aug 1,635 · Sep 1,067 · Oct 583 · Nov 353 · Dec 192 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began, since 1996.

The deadliest wildfire records on record

The 10 storms with the most deaths since 1996, by state
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2023-08-08 Lahaina Fire · WildfireMaui County, HI · forecast zone Maui Leeward West One storm episode: 2 records; the totals are the episode's. On August 8, several wildfires ignited over Maui and the Big Island. Very strong trade winds, low relative humidity, and ongoing drought conditions across leeward sections led to rapid fire growth and spread. The fires prompted several mandatory evacuations and emergency proclamations. One wildfire destroyed the town ... 102 32 $5.4B
2018-11-08 Camp Fire · WildfireButte County and 2 more, CA · forecast zone Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley The Camp Fire began on the morning of November 8, 2018, by Camp Creek Road, near Pulga in Butte County. The fire was not fully contained until November 25. This fire was the most destructive wildfire in California history, destroying much of the city of Paradise, the community of Concow, and damaging the towns of ... 86 12 $20.0B
2025-01-07 Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire · WildfireLos Angeles County, CA · forecast zone Est San Gabriel Mountains One storm episode: 8 records in 2 places, 2025-01-07 to 2025-01-09; the totals are the episode's. The combination of very strong Santa Ana winds, mountain wave activity and critically dry vegetation resulted in a significant outbreak of wildfires across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The Palisades Fire (23,707 acres) and the Eaton Fire (14,021 acres) combined to become the most significant natural disaster in ... 29 13 –
2013-06-28 Yarnell Hill Fire · WildfireYavapai County, AZ · forecast zone Yavapai County Mountains The Yarnell Hill Fire was started by lightning around 536 PM on Friday June 28 about 3.5 miles west of Yarnell. The fire grew to about 6 acres by Saturday morning. Strong outflow winds form a thunderstorm northeast of Prescott hit the fire Sunday afternoon. The wind caused the fire to blow up and it overtook 19 ... 19 0 –
2003-10-25 Cedar Fire and Paradise Fire · WildfirePine Hills, San Diego County, CA One named storm filed by several offices: 3 records in 3 episodes, 2003-10-25 to 2003-10-26; the totals are the storm's. Named the Cedar Fire, this fire was started around sunset on October 25 by a lost hunter. Wind gusts from the northeast over 30 mph began within 2 hours of the fire's start. Atmospheric conditions remained favorable for rapid fire growth for the four days following with maximum temperatures ranging between 88 and 98, ... 16 109 $1.8B
2020-09-07 WildfireButte County and 2 more, CA · forecast zone Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley Immediate evacuation orders where given to Berry Creek, Brush Creek, Forbestown, Clipper Mills, and Feather Falls areas the evening of September 8. Later that night gusty north and east winds continued to push the fires from the North Complex down the terrain, which would eventually make a run into Butte County and ... 16 0 –
2006-03-12 WildfireGray County, TX · forecast zone Gray One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. The wildfire known as the Borger wildfire started four miles southeast of Borger on the Burnett (6666) Ranch property. This wildfire was caused by downed power lines due to the strong gradient southwesterly winds. The wildfire burned four hundred and seventy-nine thousand five hundred and forty-nine acres. Twenty ... 12 8 $140M
2012-01-29 WildfireAlachua County, FL · forecast zone Alachua Very dense fog from the Paynes Prairie wildfire produced zero visibility across Interstate 75 and Highway 441 during the early morning hours. A major car pile-up began around 3:45 am, with numerous vehicles involved including 6 tractor-trailers and at least a dozen passenger vehicles. Crashed extended for about a ... 11 18 –
2007-10-21 Witch Fire and Harris Fire · WildfireSan Diego County, CA · forecast zone San Diego County Valleys One named storm filed by several offices: 9 records in 6 episodes, 2007-10-21 to 2007-10-23; the totals are the storm's. The Harris Fire was the first and deadliest fire in a series of devestating wildfires to impact the San Diego CWA during the latter half of October. The fire was likely started by a campfire about one mile east of Potrero along Harris Ranch Road. Wind gusts at Potrero were 55-70 mph during the first two days of the ... 10 127 $895M
2007-06-29 Neola North Fire · WildfireUintah County, UT · forecast zone Eastern Uinta Basin One named storm filed by several offices: 3 records in 3 episodes, 2007-06-29 to 2007-07-01; the totals are the storm's. The Neola North Fire ignited during a period of hot and very dry conditions resulting in explosive fire growth. The blaze began in Duchesne County and quickly spread into Uintah County. 9 0 $996K

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths direct and indirect, as filed, summed over each storm in each state (one episode, or a named storm filed by several offices); names from FEMA declaration titles.

The costliest wildfire records since 1993

The 8 most damaging storms since 1993, 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2018-11-08 Camp Fire · WildfireButte County and 2 more, CA · forecast zone Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley 86 12 $20.0B
2023-08-08 Lahaina Fire · WildfireMaui County, HI · forecast zone Maui Leeward West One storm episode: 2 records; the totals are the episode's. 102 32 $5.4B
2000-05-04 WildfireLos Alamos County, NM One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places, 2000-05-04 to 2000-05-07; the totals are the episode's. 0 0 $2.6B
2021-12-30 Marshall Fire · WildfireBoulder County and Jefferson County, CO · forecast zone Boulder & Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet / W Broomfield County 2 6 $2.2B
2018-07-23 Carr Fire · WildfireShasta County and Tehama County, CA · forecast zone Northern Sacramento Valley One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places, 2018-07-23 to 2018-07-27; the totals are the episode's. 5 16 $1.8B
2003-10-25 Cedar Fire and Paradise Fire · WildfirePine Hills, San Diego County, CA One named storm filed by several offices: 3 records in 3 episodes, 2003-10-25 to 2003-10-26; the totals are the storm's. 16 109 $1.8B
2003-10-25 Old Fire and Grand Prix Fire · WildfireSan Bernardino County, CA One named storm filed by several offices: 2 records in 2 episodes, 2003-10-25 to 2003-11-01; the totals are the storm's. 6 12 $1.6B
2012-06-26 Waldo Canyon Fire · WildfireEl Paso County, CO · forecast zone Northern El Paso County / Monument Ridge / Rampart Range Below 7500 Ft One named storm filed by several offices: 2 records in 2 episodes, 2012-06-26 to 2012-07-01; the totals are the storm's. 2 0 $1.0B

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, in 2025 dollars.

What the record files under wildfires

NOAA event types in this group
Event typeRecordsYearsKilledDamage
Wildfire9,5931996-2026533$50.1B

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event types as defined in NWS Instruction 10-1605.

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