Articles · Weather
Everything about Wildfire
10 articles across NWS
Unplanned fires burning in natural vegetation. The U.S. averages roughly 70,000 wildfires per year. Concentrated in the western U.S. but affecting all regions through smoke and evacuations.
Disaster History
Case studies and disaster history
The 2018 Camp Fire: How Paradise Burned in 90 Minutes & What It Teaches About Wildfire Escape
The Camp Fire destroyed the town of Paradise in 90 minutes, killed 85 people, and changed everything we know about wildfire evacuation. Here's what happened, why it spread so fast, and what every hous
Cedar Fire 2003: A Lost Hunter's Signal Fire, 80 MPH Santa Ana Winds, and 280,000 Acres by Morning
October 25, 2003. A hunter lost in the Cleveland National Forest lit a signal fire at 5:35 PM - 30 minutes before sunset, when regulations prohibit aerial firefighting aircraft. Santa Ana winds were a
Fort McMurray 2016: 88,000 People Evacuated in 48 Hours - and Why Only Two Died
In May 2016, a wildfire swept into Fort McMurray, Alberta, destroying 2,400 buildings and 15% of the city. 88,000 people were evacuated in 48 hours - the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta's histo
Lahaina 2023: 101 Deaths, No Sirens, and the Decision That Still Divides Hawaii
August 8, 2023. Hurricane-force winds downed power lines that started a fire in Lahaina, Hawaii. Firefighters contained the morning fire for five hours, then left. At 2:52 PM, it rekindled. By 5:30 PM
Oakland Hills Firestorm 1991: The Hydrants That Didn't Fit, the Roads Too Narrow for Engines, and the Fire That Killed a Battalion Chief
October 20, 1991. Diablo winds at 65 mph reignited an incompletely extinguished brush fire in the East Bay hills. Within an hour, 800 buildings were gone. Fire hose couplings from neighboring jurisdic
Getting Started
What to do right now
Preparedness
Preparedness and self-reliance
Cargo and Hauling - Safe Loading, Trailers, and Supply Runs
How to move more than people. Five-priority evacuation loading order, the staged-bin system for 15-minute departure, roof racks and weight limits, hitch cargo carriers, trailers and tow ratings, supply run logistics, and safe cargo loading principles.
Evacuation Driving
Evacuation timing, route planning, vehicle preparation, fuel strategy, and the driving decisions that determine whether your household reaches safety.
Hazard-Specific Planning
Planning for the specific hazards that threaten your area. What distinguishes each hazard type, unique preparations, watch versus warning, and pre-decided action triggers.
Wildfire Home Preparation
A calm, specific guide to preparing your home for wildfire. Defensible space zones, ember intrusion, smoke protection, and the go-or-stay decision.