Where was the Carr Fire located?
The Carr Fire burned in Shasta County, California, starting near Whiskeytown National Recreation Area along Highway 299 and Carr Powerhouse Road, about 8 miles west of Redding.
Where did the Carr Fire happen?
The Carr Fire happened near the Carr Powerhouse Road along Highway 299 in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, beginning on July 23, 2018.
That spot sits in Shasta County, roughly 8 miles west of Redding, California. The fire kicked off in rugged terrain near French Gulch, drawing an immediate response from the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Cal Fire.
Where in California was the Carr Fire?
The Carr Fire was located in Shasta County, California, at the intersection of Highway 299 and Carr Powerhouse Road, in the Whiskeytown district of the Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area, near French Gulch.
That remote location made initial access tough and helped the fire spread fast. It scorched both rural and suburban areas on Redding’s outskirts, forcing widespread evacuations.
What started the Carr Fire in California?
The Carr Fire was started by a mechanical failure on the passenger side of a travel trailer, specifically a malfunctioning tire or wheel assembly.
Investigators traced the blaze back to heat from the failing wheel assembly igniting nearby dry brush. Hot, windy conditions then fanned the flames. The fire was reported on July 23, 2018, around 1:20 p.m.
How big was the Carr Fire near Redding, California?
The Carr Fire burned over 229,000 acres and destroyed nearly 1,100 homes.
It claimed eight lives—including four first responders—and racked up about $162 million in damages. Firefighters finally contained it on August 30, 2018, after 39 days of burning.
What’s the biggest fire in California history?
The August Complex Fire is the largest wildfire in California history, burning over 1 million acres.
It wasn’t just one fire—it was a cluster of blazes that merged, mostly in Mendocino National Forest. The Dixie Fire comes in second at over 960,000 acres, followed by the Mendocino Complex Fire at 459,123 acres.
| Rank | Fire Name | Counties Affected |
|---|
| 1 | August Complex | Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Tehama, Trinity, Shasta |
| 2 | Dixie Fire | Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta, Tehama |
| 3 | Mendocino Complex | Mendocino, Lake, Colusa, Glenn |
| 4 | SCU Lightning Complex | Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Merced, Stanislaus |
How long did the Carr Fire tornado last?
The Carr Fire produced a fire tornado that lasted about an hour.
Those extreme heat and wind conditions whipped up a rotating column of fire, reaching wind speeds up to 143 mph. The National Weather Service confirmed this fire whirl as one of the strongest ever recorded in California.
When did the Carr Fire finally end?
The Carr Fire ended on August 30, 2018.
It had started on July 23, 2018, and burned for 39 days straight. Cal Fire fully contained it after thousands of firefighters and massive resources were thrown at the blaze.
When did the Dixie Fire start?
The Dixie Fire started on July 13, 2021.
A tree fell into a PG&E power line near the Cresta Dam in the Feather River Canyon, sparking the fire. The remote location slowed the initial response, letting the fire explode in its first hours.
When did the Shasta fire start?
The Monument Fire—often called the Shasta Fire—started on July 30, 2021, around 6:00 p.m.
Lightning from a passing thunderstorm lit the spark. The fire burned through Shasta County and was one of several ignited by that same storm system.
How did the Dixie Fire start?
The Dixie Fire started when a tree fell into a 12,000-volt PG&E power line near the Cresta Dam in the Feather River Canyon.
According to reports, it took utility crews roughly 10 hours to reach the remote site and spot the flames. The fire eventually torched over 950,000 acres, making it one of California’s largest.
What’s happening with the couple who started the fire?
The couple faces potential criminal charges, including involuntary manslaughter, which could mean up to 20 years in prison.
In September 2020, their gender-reveal party sparked the El Dorado Fire in Yucaipa, California, which burned more than 22,000 acres. As of 2026, their case is still under legal review.
How long did the Camp Fire last?
The Camp Fire burned for 17 days.
It began on November 8, 2018, near Camp Creek Road in Butte County. By the time it was done, it had become California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire, killing 85 people and leveling over 18,000 structures.
How many acres did the Dixie Fire cover?
The Dixie Fire burned more than 960,000 acres.
As of 2026, it ranks as the second-largest single wildfire in California history. Firefighters reached 65% containment after months of battling the blaze in rugged, hard-to-reach terrain.
How big was the Mendocino Complex Fire?
The Mendocino Complex Fire burned 459,123 acres across four counties.
It actually consisted of two major fires: the Ranch Fire and the River Fire. Both were fully contained by September 2018, but not before tearing through Lake, Mendocino, Colusa, and Glenn counties.
What was the largest fire in U.S. history?
The 1871 Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin is the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history, killing at least 1,152 people.
The firestorm erupted on the same day as the Great Chicago Fire but got far less attention. It scorched roughly 1.2 million acres and still stands as a grim benchmark for fire disasters in the country.
