BEIJING, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Camp Fire, the massive raging wildfire in Northern California, has killed at least 29 people, making it the deadliest wildfire in the history of the western U.S. state of California.
Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that spread quicky over woodland or brush. They are usually caused by human activities or lightning. In recent years, wildfires have become more devastating as a result of climate change.
The following is a list of major wildfires in the United States in recent years.
-- Thomas Fire
The Thomas Fire is the largest wildfire on record in the history of the state of California. It broke out in Ventura County on Dec. 4 in 2017 and scorched 273,400 acres (1,106.4 square km) within 18 days, surpassing the 2003 Cedar fire in San Diego County, which burned 273,246 acres (1,105.8 square km).
It destroyed a total of 1,063 structures and damaged 280 others.
The fire claimed the life of a firefighter and a civilian who died in a vehicle accident while trying to evacuate.
-- October 2017 Northern California wildfires
The devastating wildfires that broke out on Oct. 8 and swept Northern California, killing 44 people and destroying at least 8,900 structures, including homes and business facilities.
The wildfires burned over 245,000 acres (991.480 square km) of land and forced about 100,000 people to evacuate.
Among the victims, the youngest was 14 years old and the eldest 100 years old. The losses from the wildfires were rough estimated at 1 billion U.S. dollars.
-- Carlton Complex Fire
The Carlton Complex Fire was a massive wildfire in north central part of the state of Washington which burned 256,108 acres (1,036.4 square km). It started on July 14, 2014 as four separate lightning-caused fires which merged into one single fire in four days.
The complex destroyed 353 homes. The economic loss was estimated at 98 million dollars. It remains the largest single wildfire in Washington state history.
-- Yarnell Hill Fire
The Yarnell Hill Fire in the state of Arizona killed 19 firefighters in 2013.
It was the biggest ever firefighter tragedy in the state as the wildfire in the Yarnell Hill ripped through half of the town, damaging about 500 homes.
-- Long Straw Fire
The Long Straw Fire was started by a lightning strike on July 8, 2012 that burned 557,648 acres (2,257 square km) in southeastern Oregon in the west part of the country. It was Oregon's largest wildfire since 1865.
-- Bastrop County Complex Fire
The Bastrop County Complex Fire was the most destructive wildfire in the history of the state of Texas. Three separated fires started on Sept. 4, 2011 and then merged into one large blaze.
Two people were killed by the fire which destroyed 1,673 homes and cost an estimated 325 million dollars in insured property damage.
