The Mendocino complex became the largest fire in California history. It is one of nine active fires of more than 100,000 acres this summer, including the Holy fire, which has burned more than 20,000 acres in Riverside and Orange counties.
California fire season to date
As of Aug. 5, 4,723 fires and 749,770 acres have burned on Cal Fire and U.S. Forest Service land. The Mendocino complex accounts for nearly half of the burned acreage.
The new No. 1
Before the Mendocino complex, the largest fire in California had been the Thomas fire, which started Dec. 4 and burned nearly 300,000 acres. Here is a day-by-day look at the estimated total acres burned in the Mendocino complex and Thomas fires:.
These are the largest fires in California history. Three of the biggest (in bold) have occurred within the last eight months. Fourteen of the fires occurred during the months of July and August.
Source: CAL FIRE