Year In Review: The 25 Biggest Wildfires of 2024

Intense wildfire blazing through mountains in California at night, creating a dramatic scene.

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Just like last year, and the year before that, 2024 has been an exceptional wildfire year. Rising temperatures and widespread drought conditions led to increased fire activity throughout the United States, with more than 54,000 fires burning over 8.5 million acres.

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Abnormally dry conditions brought wildfires to unexpected places like New York and Connecticut. One fire burned more than 1,000,000 acres in the Texas panhandle and western Oklahoma, becoming one of the largest wildfires in U.S. history. A closer look at the data reveals the wildfires that burned the most land in 2024.

To determine the biggest wildfires of 2024, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on wildfire perimeters from the National Interagency Fire Center. Fires that were discovered on January 1, 2024 or later were ranked based on total acreage burned. Supplemental data on discovery date and containment date are also from the NIFC.

25. Bridge Fire

Total burned area: 56,022 acres
Date discovered: September 8, 2024
Date contained: N/A
Affected areas: Los Angeles County, CA; San Bernardino County, CA

24. Borel Fire

Total burned area: 59,289 acres
Date discovered: July 24, 2024
Date contained: September 15, 2024
Affected areas: Kern County, CA

23. Warner Peak Fire

Total burned area: 65,866 acres
Date discovered: August 6, 2024
Date contained: October 17, 2024
Affected areas: Lake County, OR

22. Betty's Way Fire

Total burned area: 68,000 acres
Date discovered: February 26, 2024
Date contained: N/A
Affected areas: Lincoln County, NE; Custer County, NE

21. Red Rock Fire

Total burned area: 79,260 acres
Date discovered: September 2, 2024
Date contained: October 30, 2024
Affected areas: Lemhi County, ID

20. 0501 PR Crazy Creek Fire

Total burned area: 86,963 acres
Date discovered: July 22, 2024
Date contained: N/A
Affected areas: Crook County, OR; Wheeler County, OR

19. Catesby Fire Fire

Total burned area: 89,688 acres
Date discovered: February 27, 2024
Date contained: N/A
Affected areas: Ellis County, OK

18. Pack Trail Fire

Total burned area: 89,929 acres
Date discovered: August 16, 2024
Date contained: November 7, 2024
Affected areas: Teton County, WY; Fremont County, WY; Sublette County, WY

17. Lava Fire

Total burned area: 97,585 acres
Date discovered: September 3, 2024
Date contained: October 25, 2024
Affected areas: Adams County, ID; Gem County, ID; Valley County, ID; Washington County, ID

16. Elk Fire

Total burned area: 98,352 acres
Date discovered: September 27, 2024
Date contained: N/A
Affected areas: Sheridan County, WY

15. Hole in the Ground Fire

Total burned area: 98,977 acres
Date discovered: July 25, 2024
Date contained: August 2, 2024
Affected areas: Malheur County, OR

14. Wapiti Fire

Total burned area: 129,063 acres
Date discovered: July 25, 2024
Date contained: October 31, 2024
Affected areas: Boise County, ID; Custer County, ID; Elmore County, ID

13. Cow Valley Fire

Total burned area: 133,489 acres
Date discovered: July 11, 2024
Date contained: August 10, 2024
Affected areas: Malheur County, OR

12. Lone Rock Fire

Total burned area: 137,222 acres
Date discovered: July 13, 2024
Date contained: September 11, 2024
Affected areas: Wheeler County, OR; Gilliam County, OR; Morrow County, OR

11. Windy Deuce Fire

Total burned area: 143,302 acres
Date discovered: February 27, 2024
Date contained: March 17, 2024
Affected areas: Carson County, TX; Potter County, TX; Moore County, TX; Hutchinson County, TX

10. Falls Fire

Total burned area: 151,683 acres
Date discovered: July 10, 2024
Date contained: August 23, 2024
Affected areas: Harney County, OR; Grant County, OR

9. McDonald Fire

Total burned area: 153,729 acres
Date discovered: June 8, 2024
Date contained: N/A
Affected areas: Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK; Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK; Denali Borough, AK

8. House Draw Fire

Total burned area: 174,547 acres
Date discovered: August 21, 2024
Date contained: September 17, 2024
Affected areas: Johnson County, WY

7. Rail Ridge Fire

Total burned area: 176,661 acres
Date discovered: September 2, 2024
Date contained: N/A
Affected areas: Grant County, OR; Crook County, OR; Wheeler County, OR

6. Monkey Creek Fire

Total burned area: 178,542 acres
Date discovered: July 18, 2024
Date contained: August 20, 2024
Affected areas: Grant County, OR; Morrow County, OR; Umatilla County, OR

5. Paddock Fire

Total burned area: 187,185 acres
Date discovered: August 6, 2024
Date contained: August 17, 2024
Affected areas: Washington County, ID; Gem County, ID; Payette County, ID

4. Remington Fire

Total burned area: 196,368 acres
Date discovered: August 22, 2024
Date contained: September 21, 2024
Affected areas: Rosebud County, MT; Big Horn County, MT; Powder River County, MT; Sheridan County, WY; Campbell County, WY

3. Durkee Fire

Total burned area: 294,265 acres
Date discovered: July 17, 2024
Date contained: September 9, 2024
Affected areas: Baker County, OR; Malheur County, OR

2. Park Fire

Total burned area: 429,603 acres
Date discovered: July 24, 2024
Date contained: September 26, 2024
Affected areas: Tehama County, CA; Butte County, CA

1. Smokehouse Creek Fire

Total burned area: 1,054,153 acres
Date discovered: February 26, 2024
Date contained: March 17, 2024
Affected areas: Roberts County, TX; Hemphill County, TX; Hutchinson County, TX; Ellis County, OK; Carson County, TX; Roger Mills County, OK; Gray County, TX; Wheeler County, TX; Lipscomb County, TX