2003 California wildfires

The 2003 California wildfires were a series of wildfires that burned throughout the state of California during the year 2003. In total, 9,116 fires[2] burned 1,020,460 acres (4,129.7 km2).[3][4] In October, a major wildfire outbreak in Southern California burned more than 750,000 acres, destroyed thousands of homes, and killed two dozen people.[8] Many of the victims were killed in their cars while trying to flee.[9][10]

2003 California wildfires
Satellite view of the October 2003 wildfires in Southern California, depicting the smoke blowing out over the Pacific Ocean.
Statistics[1][2][3]
Total fires9,116
Total area1,020,460 acres (4,129.7 km2)[3][4]
Cost>$2.729 billion (2003 USD)[5][6][1]
Deaths24 civilians[7]
1 firefighter
Non-fatal injuriesAt least 1 firefighter,[4] 36 civilians
Season
← 2002
2004 →

Fires

Below is a list of fires that exceeded 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) during the 2003 fire season.[3] The list is taken from CAL FIRE's list of large fires.

Name County Acres Km2 Start Date Contained Date Notes
LocalRiverside12,000 48.6February 23, 2003February 23, 2003
DelimaTulare3,000 12.1May 3, 2003May 3, 2003
BirdSan Joaquin6,804 27.5June 1, 2003June 1, 2003
TejonKern1,155 4.7June 29, 2003June 2, 20032 structures destroyed
ParkhillSan Luis Obispo1,200 4.9July 20, 2003July 22, 200318 structures destroyed
Kibbie ComplexTuolumne9,815 39.7July 20, 2003October 2, 2003
CoyoteSan Diego18,705 75.7July 16, 2003July 26, 20032 structures destroyed
LocustRiverside1,898 7.7August 18, 2003August 20, 20031 structure destroyed
CanoeHumboldt24,882 100.7September 3, 2003October 15, 20032 structures damaged
PassRiverside2,397 9.7October 21, 2003October 23, 20033 structures destroyed
Grand PrixSan Bernardino66,894 270.7October 21, 2003November 5, 2003136 structures destroyed
PiruVentura63,991 259.0October 23, 2003November 14, 20038 structures destroyed
VerdaleLos Angeles8,650 35.0October 24, 2003October 24, 20031 structure destroyed
SimiVentura108,204 437.9October 25, 2003November 5, 2003300 structures destroyed, 21 injuries
CedarSan Diego273,246 1,105.8October 25, 2003December 5, 20032,820 structures destroyed, 15 fatalities
OldSan Bernardino91,281 369.4October 25, 2003November 14, 20031,003 structures destroyed, 6 fatalities
OtaySan Diego46,291 187.3October 26, 2003October 27, 20031 residential structure and 5 outbuildings destroyed, 1 firefighter injured[4]
MineSan Diego46,000 186.2October 26, 2003October 28, 2003
MountainRiverside10,000 40.5October 26, 2003October 29, 200361 structures destroyed
ParadiseSan Diego56,700 229.5October 26, 2003November 6, 2003223 structures destroyed, 2 fatalities
WhitmoreShasta1,200 4.9October 27, 2003October 30, 2003

References
  1. "Cedar Fire Memorial". www.lakesidehistory.org. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  2. "National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State in 2003" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. 2004. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  3. "Large Fires 2003" (PDF). CAL FIRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  4. "Otay Fire". CalFire. October 27, 2003. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  5. Dr. Tomas Girnius; Tyler Hauteniemi; Scott Stransky (August 2008). "California Wildfire: How Large Can The Losses Be?" (PDF). AIRCurrents. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  6. "CDF 2003 Fire Season Summary" (PDF). CalFire. May 2005. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  7. Jack A. Blackwell; Andrea Tuttle (2004). "California Fire Siege 2003: The Story" (PDF). CalFire. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  8. California Fire Siege 2003: The Story (PDF) (Report). California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  9. Mutch, R.W. "FACES: The Story of the Victims of Southern California‘s 2003 Fire Siege", by Robert W. Mutch; Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center; July 2007.
  10. USDA "The 2003 San Diego County Fire Siege Fire safety Review"; USDA Forest Service; 2003.
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