California's worst wildfires in memory

Some of the worst wildfires in California since the 1930s, based on deaths, destruction or acreage burned:

• October 2003: Near San Diego; 273,000 acres; 4,847 structures destroyed; 15 deaths. Cause: Accidentally started by a hunter. It was among 15 wildfires that killed 22 people, destroyed 3,640 homes and blackened 750,000 acres of Southern California over two weeks.

• November 1993: Malibu area of Los Angeles County; 18,000 acres; 323 homes destroyed; three deaths. Cause: arson. It was among more than 20 that killed four people, destroyed more than 1,000 homes and consumed 193,814 acres over two weeks.

• October 1991: Oakland hills of Alameda County in the San Francisco Bay area; 1,520 acres; 3,276 homes and apartments destroyed; 25 people killed. Cause: A flying ember from a fire believed to have been contained ignited a tree.

• November 1980: San Bernardino Mountain foothills east of Los Angeles; 23,600 acres; 325 homes destroyed; four dead. Cause: Arson.

• September 1970: San Diego County mountains; 175,425 acres; 382 structures destroyed; six dead. Cause: Power lines.

• November 1966: Near Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County; 2,028 acres, 12 firefighters killed; Cause: Power line.

• November 1961: Los Angeles County; 6,090 acres; 484 homes destroyed; Cause: Believed accidental.

• July 1953: Glenn County, Northern California; 1,300 acres; 15 firefighters killed. Cause: Arson.

• October 1933: Los Angeles County; 47 acres; 29 welfare workers clearing brush killed. Cause: Undetermined.

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Sources: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, local fire agencies, newspaper reports, official and scholarly reports.