August Complex Fire Becomes the Largest Wildfire in California’s History

This year’s wildfire season in Northern California continues its devastating march towards history. The August Complex Fire, which is currently burning in Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Tehama and Trinity counties, is now the largest fire in California’s recorded history.

The fire was reported at 471,185 acres on Thursday, surpassing the Mendocino Complex Fire as the largest area burned by a fire in California. The complex consists of  37 fires started by lightning in the now infamous thunderstorm of August 6, 2020. As of September 10, the fire sits at 24 percent containment.

The August Fire isn’t the only wildfire currently making history in NorCal. The SCU Lightning Complex is still burning near Santa Cruz and is now the third largest in California’s history. The LNU Lightning Complex continues to burn in the Sonoma/Napa area and is the fourth largest fire in California’s history. And the North Complex Fire burning in Plumas and Butte counties just became the tenth largest fires in California’s history.

Needless to say, this fire season is historic.