The 23 Most Destructive Wildfires in Recent US History

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A lightning strike on July 4, 2025 ignited a blaze in northern Arizona that, until recently, was allowed to burn with little or no interference. In more recent days, the wildfire has expanded significantly along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, prompting park officials to issue evacuation orders – and switch strategies from one of containment and control, to one of suppression.

Already, officials from the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior are under scrutiny for their failure to accurately assess the risk posed by, what has been dubbed, the Dragon Bravo Fire. As of July 15, the wildfire had spread to an area of nearly 6,000 acres and destroyed over 70 buildings, including the historic, century-old Grand Canyon Lodge.

Over two weeks after it began, the fire continues to rage out of control, and the damage it will ultimately leave in its wake remains unknown. Already, however, the Dragon Bravo Fire has resulted in the closure of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for the remainder of the year.

Wildfires are among the most dangerous and destructive natural disasters commonly faced in the United States. According to the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, there have been 23 wildfire events in the U.S. that have caused at least $1 billion in damage between 1980 and 2024. These major incidents – often made up of several individual wildfires spread across multiple states – have resulted in over 530 deaths.

With several months remaining in the 2025 wildfire season, the fire risk posed by dry and windy conditions in many parts of the country mean that Dragon Bravo may not be the last major wildfire in the U.S. this year.

Using data from NOAA, Climate Crisis 247 identified the most destructive wildfires to hit the United States in recent decades. Only wildfire incidents that occurred since 1980 and caused over $1 billion in damage in inflation adjusted dollars were considered. Fire events are ranked by the estimated, inflation-adjusted dollar value of their total destruction. All supplemental data is also from NOAA.

23. Western Wildfires (Summer-Fall 2009)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $1.5 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: June 01, 2009 - November 30, 2009
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 10
Destructive fires involved included: Station Fire

22. Western Fire Season (Summer-Fall 1994)

*Photo by Filippos Sdralias on Unsplash*

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $1.5 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: June 01, 1994 - November 30, 1994
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 0
Destructive fires involved included: Row Fire, Marcus Fire, Mother's Day Fire, Spirit Mountain Fire, Horizon Fire, Rincon Fire

21. Western Fire Season (Summer 1990)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $1.7 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: June 01, 1990 - August 31, 1990
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 17
Destructive fires involved included: Dude Fire, A-Rock Fire

20. U.S. Wildfires (Fall 2008)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $1.8 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: September 01, 2008 - November 30, 2008
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 16
Destructive fires involved included: Klamath Theater Complex Fire, Iron Alps Complex Fire, Basin Complex Fire

19. New Mexico Wildfires (June 2024)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $1.8 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: June 17, 2024 - July 07, 2024
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 2
Destructive fires involved included: South Fork Fire

18. Western Fire Season (Spring-Summer 2000)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $2.0 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: March 01, 2000 - August 31, 2000
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 0
Destructive fires involved included: Cerro Grande Fire, Outlet Fire, Bircher Fire, Pony Fire, Monument Fire, Sand Fire

17. Western Fire Season (Fall 2002)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $2.3 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: September 01, 2002 - November 30, 2002
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 21
Destructive fires involved included: Rodeo Fire, Chediski Fire, Hayman Fire, Biscuit Fire

16. Numerous Western and Southern Wildfires (2006)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $2.3 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: January 01, 2006 - December 31, 2006
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 28
Destructive fires involved included: Bear Fire, Esperanza Fire, Brins Mesa Fire

15. Western Wildfires (Summer-Fall 2012)

*Photo by Intricate Explorer on Unsplash*

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $2.4 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: June 01, 2012 - November 30, 2012
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 8
Destructive fires involved included: Waldo Canyon Fire, Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire, High Park Fire, Long Draw Fire

14. Texas, New Mexico, Arizona Wildfires (Summer-Fall 2011)

*Photo by Chris LeBoutillier on Unsplash*

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $2.5 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: June 01, 2011 - November 30, 2011
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 5
Destructive fires involved included: Bastrop Fire, Wallow Fire, Las Conchas Fire

13. California Wildfires (Fall 1993)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $3.0 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: September 01, 1993 - November 30, 1993
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 4
Destructive fires involved included: Laguna Canyon Fire

12. Western/Southeast Wildfires (Summer-Fall 2016)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $3.1 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: June 01, 2016 - December 31, 2016
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 21
Destructive fires involved included: Cottonwood Fire, McHugh Fire, Cedar Fire, Erskine Fire, Soberanes Fire, Blue Cut Fire, Pioneer Fire, Hot Pot Fire

11. Western Wildfires (Spring-Fall 2022)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $3.3 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: April 01, 2022 - November 30, 2022
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 17
Destructive fires involved included: Calf Canyon Fire, Hermits Peak Fire, Double Creek Fire, Moose Fire, Trail Creek Fire, Lime Complex Fire

10. Western and Alaskan Wildfires (Summer-Fall 2015)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $4.0 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: June 01, 2015 - November 30, 2015
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 12
Destructive fires involved included: Valley Fire, Butte Fire, Okanogan Complex Fire

9. Western Wildfires (Summer 2007)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $4.1 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: June 01, 2007 - August 31, 2007
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 12
Destructive fires involved included: Anaktuvuk River Fire, Zaca Two Fire, Chippy Creek Fire, Murphy Complex Fire, Milford Flat Fire

8. California and Alaska Wildfires (Summer-Fall 2019)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $5.5 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: June 01, 2019 - November 30, 2019
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 3
Destructive fires involved included: Kincade Fire, Saddle Ridge Fire

7. Hawaii Firestorm (August 2023)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $5.7 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: August 08, 2023 - August 08, 2023
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 100
Destructive fires involved included: Lahaina Fire, Olinda Fire, Peulehu Fire

6. California Wildfires (Fall 2003)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $6.6 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: September 01, 2003 - November 30, 2003
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 22
Destructive fires involved included: Cedar Fire

5. Oakland Firestorm (October 1991)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $7.6 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: October 01, 1991 - October 31, 1991
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 25
Destructive fires involved included: Tunnel Fire

4. Western Wildfires (2021)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $12.1 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: June 01, 2021 - December 31, 2021
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 8
Destructive fires involved included: Dixie Fire, Caldor Fire, Ford Corkscrew Fire, Bootleg Fire, Boundary Fire, Trail Creek Fire, Telegraph Fire, Marshall Fire

3. Western Wildfires - California, Oregon, Washington Firestorms (Fall 2020)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $19.9 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: August 01, 2020 - December 30, 2020
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 46
Destructive fires involved included: August Complex Fire, Santa Clara Unit Complex Fire, Lightning Complex Fire

2. Western Wildfires, California Firestorm (Summer-Fall 2017)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $23.2 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: June 01, 2017 - December 31, 2017
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 54
Destructive fires involved included: Tubbs Fire, Atlas Fire, Nuns Fire, Redwood Valley Fire

1. Western Wildfires, California Firestorm (Summer-Fall 2018)

Damage caused by wildfire incident: $30.0 billion (inflation adjusted)
Start and end dates of wildfires: June 01, 2018 - December 31, 2018
Total deaths attributed to wildfires: 106
Destructive fires involved included: Mendocino Complex Fire, Carr Fire, Woolsey Fire