California Wildfire Statistics (2026): Acres Burned, Fires, Fatalities, Structures

California Wildfire Statistics and Facts for 2026

California’s wildfire activity shifts year to year, but the data is consistently tracked by CAL FIRE and partner agencies. Below is a reference-style roundup of 2025 statewide wildfire totals plus several all-time and modern-era records, with source links for each figure.

Data note: The 2025 figures below come from CAL FIRE’s incident archive and are labeled as preliminary in some fields (for example, fatalities can be “pending coroner confirmation”). When totals are preliminary, they are described as such.

See also: Shocking Global Warming Facts and Climate Change Statistics

On this page:

• 2025 statewide totals
• Historical records (largest, deadliest, etc.)
• Methodology
• Sources & references

California wildfire statistics for 2026

Total number of wildfires in California (2025):
8,036

Total acres burned in California (2025):
525,223 acres

Total fatalities in California wildfires (2025):
31 (preliminary; pending coroner confirmation)

Total structures destroyed in California wildfires (2025):
16,512

California wildfire records and all-time facts

Largest California wildfire on record (by acreage):
August Complex Fire (2020) — 1,032,648 acres

Deadliest California wildfire on record:
Camp Fire (2018) — 85 deaths

Second-deadliest California wildfire on record:
Griffith Park Fire (1933) — 29 deaths

Largest insured wildfire loss figure publicly reported by the California Department of Insurance (Camp Fire claims snapshot):
Insurance Information Institute (citing the California Department of Insurance) reported $8.47 billion in insured losses from the Camp Fire as of May 2019.

Methodology

• 2025 totals: Pulled from CAL FIRE’s statewide 2025 Incident Archive (fires, acres, structures, fatalities). Fatalities are shown exactly as CAL FIRE lists them, including “preliminary” status when noted. (CAL FIRE)
• Historical records: Largest and deadliest records come from CAL FIRE’s published “Top 20” PDFs. (Largest; Deadliest)
• No projections: This page avoids “projected” totals and uses only published totals or clearly labeled preliminary figures from official or widely cited sources.

Sources & references

• CAL FIRE — 2025 Incident Archive (fires, acres, fatalities, structures destroyed)
• CAL FIRE — Top 20 Largest California Wildfires (PDF)
• CAL FIRE — Top 20 Deadliest California Wildfires (PDF)
• Insurance Information Institute — Camp Fire insured losses figure (citing California Department of Insurance)