Summary: California and other Southwestern US states have had to deal with major wildfires for the last couple of decades now, and the frequency and severity of these have been increasing every year. The Southern California Fires last year brought this home.
By the end of 2024, a total of 8,024 wildfires burned a cumulative 1,050,012 acres (424,925 ha) throughout California. The total number of wildfires was slightly higher than the five-year average, while the total number of acres burned was lower. Wildfires destroyed a total of 1,716 structures and killed one person in the state in 2024. This season had the most burned acres since the 2021 wildfire season.
