More acres burned in California wildfires last year than any other on record.
Now, 2021 is on pace to far surpass 2020.
Over 73,500 acres had burned through July 4, according to Cal Fire officials. Last year, the number at that time was 31,111.
Over 4.25 million acres burned in California in 2020, with five of the six largest fires on record in the state’s history. The vast majority of the damage, however, was done in the second half of the year.
Four of those wildfires occurred last August, and another one in September.
California’s wildfire pacing could change in the second half of 2021, leaving this year with fewer acres burned than last. But the state already experienced a record-setting heat wave last month before the start of summer, and practically all of California is dealing with a worsening drought.
Fire risk is highest in exceptional drought conditions, followed closely by extreme drought.
Over 85% of the state was in extreme drought through June 29, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Much of Alameda and San Francisco counties, plus all of Marin, Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties, are in exceptional drought.
A year ago at this time, only 2.45% of the state was in extreme or exceptional drought. At the start of last August, before the year’s biggest fires burned, that figure was 3.04%.
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