Rush Fire
The Rush Fire was the largest wildfire of the 2012 California wildfire season.
- The fire, which started in Lassen County, California, eventually spread into Washoe County, Nevada.
- The fire consumed a total of 315,577 acres (490 sq mi; 1,280 km2) of sagebrush, of which 271,991 acres (1,100 km2; 420 sq mi) were in California.
- At the time, the burn area in California made the Rush Fire the second-largest wildfire in California since 1932 (when accurate area estimates became available).
- In December 2017, the Thomas Fire surpassed the Rush Fire to become the second-largest wildfire in modern California history, in terms of the area burned in California.
- The fire destroyed important habitat for the greater sage-grouse, as well as a single barn. On August 30, 2012, the Rush Fire was 100% contained.
Top 10 Largest Wildfires in History
Wildfires are a natural part of many ecosystems, but they can also be devastating. Wildfires have become more frequent, intense, and destructive due to climate change. In 2020 alone, there were 10.3 million acres burned in the United States, the highest number since records began in 1983. The fires caused an estimated $20 billion in damage and destroyed over 10,000 homes.
In this article, we will look into the list of the top 10 largest wildfires in history.