Version Information:

The data is updated yearly with fire perimeters from the previous fire season.

Firep21_2 was released in October 2022. The fields COMPLEX_NAME and COMPLEX_INCNUM were added to the dataset; historical complex fires were updated as such to the best of current ability. COMPLEX_NAME is for fires that were initially individual fires (with their own name) and then became part of a complex and thus were given a new name. COMPLEX_INCNUM was created for the same reason as COMPLEX_NAME. Ten fires were added (5 CAL FIRE, 5 USDA Forest Service). The 2008 Paradise Fire perimeter was spatially adjusted to more accurately account for its location. Six perimeters were removed, becoming a complex. The 1996 Columbia Hill and Shields Camp perimeters were removed due to confirmation of their status of prescribed burn. The 2014 Coffee fire was replaced by a more accurate polygon. Thirty-two records' attributes were updated, mostly CAUSE data from 2019 and 2020.

The following fires were identified as meeting our collection criteria for 2021 fires but are not included in this version and will hopefully be added in the next update: Hartman, Lone Rock, Union, and Nelson.

If you would like a full briefing on these adjustments, please contact CAL FIRE FRAP.

________________________________________________________________

CAL FIRE (including contract counties), USDA Forest Service Region 5, USDI Bureau of Land Management & National Park Service, and other agencies jointly maintain a comprehensive fire perimeter GIS layer for public and private lands throughout the state. The data covers fires back to 1878.

Current criteria for data collection are as follows:

CAL FIRE (including contract counties) submit perimeters ≥10 acres in timber, ≥50 acres in brush, or ≥300 acres in grass, and/or ≥3 damaged/ destroyed residential or commercial structures, and/or caused ≥1 fatality.

All cooperating agencies submit perimeters ≥10 acres.

________________________________________________________________________________

Discrepancies between wildfire perimeter data and Redbook Large Damaging Fires

Large Damaging fires in California were first defined by the 1979 Redbook. The definition of “Large Damaging” fires used by CAL FIRE has changed over time and differs from the definition initially used when compiling this digital Fire Perimeter data.

In contrast, the definition of fires whose perimeter should be collected has changed once in the approximately 30 years the data has been in existence. Below are descriptions of changes in data collection criteria used when compiling these two datasets.

To facilitate comparison, this meta data includes a summary, by year of fires in the Redbook that do not appear in this fire perimeter dataset. It is followed by an enumeration of each “Redbook” fire missing from the spatial data.

Wildfire Perimeter criteria

~1991: 10 acres timber, 30 acres brush, 300 acres grass, damages or destroys three residence or one commercial structure or $300,000 damage

~2010: 1991 criteria but the monetary criteria, the differentiation of structure type and the use of damages were all removed

Redbook Fire data criteria

1979 - Fires of a minimum of 300 acres that burn at least: 30 acres timber, 300 acres brush, 1500 acres woodland or grass

1981 - 1979 criteria plus fires that took 3000 hrs of CDF personnel time to suppress

1992 - 1981 criteria plus 1500 acres ag products, or destroys three residence or one commercial structure or $300,000 damage

1993 - 1992 criteria but “three or more structures destroyed” replaces “destroys three residence or one commercial structure” and the 3000 hrs of CDF personnel time to suppress is removed

2008 - simply 300 acres and larger

--------------------------------

Year and Number of missing Large Damaging Fires for that year

---------------------------------

Enumeration of fires in the Redbook that are missing from Fire Perimeter data

1979-Sylvandale (HUU), Kiefer (AEU), Taylor(TUU), Parker#2(TCU), PGE#10, Crocker(SLU), Silver Spur (SLU), Parkhill (SLU), Tar Springs #2 (SLU), Langdon (SCU), Truelson (RRU), Bautista (RRU), Crocker (SLU), Spanish Ranch (SLU), Parkhill (SLU), Oak Springs(BDU), Ruddell (BDF), Santa Ana (BDU), Asst. #61 (MVU), Bernardo (MVU), Otay #20

1980– Lightning series (SKU), Lavida (RRU), Mission Creek (RRU), Horse (RRU), Providence (RRU), Almond (BDU), Dam (BDU), Jones (BDU), Sycamore (BDU), Lightning (MVU), Assist 73, 85, 138 (MVU)

1981– Basalt (LNU), Lightning #25(LMU), Likely (MNF), USFS#5 (SNF), Round Valley (TUU), St. Elmo (KRN), Buchanan (TCU), Murietta (RRU), Goetz (RRU), Morongo #29 (RRU), Rancho (RRU), Euclid (BDU), Oat Mt. (LAC & VNC), Outside Origin #1 (MVU), Moreno (MVU)

1982- Duzen (SRF), Rave (LMU), Sheep’s trail (KRN), Jury (KRN), Village (RRU), Yuma (BDF)

1983- Lightning #4 (FKU), Kern Co. #13, #18 (KRN)

1984-Bidwell (BTU), BLM D 284,337, PNF #115, Mill Creek (TGU), China hat (MMU), fey ranch, Kern Co #10, 25,26,27, Woodrow (KRN), Salt springs, Quartz (TCU), Bonanza (BEU), Pasquel (SBC), Orco asst. (ORC), Canel (local), Rattlesnake (BDF)

1985- Hidden Valley, Magic (LNU), Bald Mt. (LNU), Iron Peak (MEU), Murrer (LMU), Rock Creek (BTU), USFS #29, 33, Bluenose, Amador, 8 mile (AEU), Backbone, Panoche, Los Gatos series, Panoche (FKU), Stan #7, Falls #2 (MMU), USFS #5 (TUU), Grizzley, Gann (TCU), Bumb, Piney Creek, HUNTER LIGGETT ASST#2, Pine, Lowes, Seco, Gorda-rat, Cherry (BEU), Las pilitas, Hwy 58 #2 (SLO), Lexington, Finley (SCU), Onions, Owens (BDU), Cabazon, Gavalin, Orco, Skinner, Shell, Pala (RRU), South Mt., Wheeler, Black Mt., Ferndale, (VNC), Archibald, Parsons, Pioneer (BDU), Decker, Gleason(LAC), Gopher, Roblar, Assist #38 (MVU)

1986– Knopki (SRF), USFS #10 (NEU), Galvin (RRU), Powerline (RRU), Scout, Inscription (BDU), Intake (BDF), Assist #42 (MVU), Lightning series (FKU), Yosemite #1 (YNP), USFS Asst. (BEU), Dutch Kern #30 (KRN)

1987- Peach (RRU), Ave 32 (TUU), Conover (RRU), Eagle #1 (LNU), State 767 aka Bull (RRU), Denny (TUU), Dog Bar (NEU), Crank (LMU), White Deer (FKU), Briceburg (LMU), Post (RRU), Antelope (RRU), Cougar-I (SKU), Pilitas (SLU) Freaner (SHU), Fouts Complex (LNU), Slides (TGU), French (BTU), Clark (PNF), Fay/Top (SQF), Under, Flume, Bear Wallow, Gulch, Bear-1, Trinity, Jessie, friendly, Cold, Tule, Strause, China/Chance, Bear, Backbone, Doe, (SHF) Travis Complex, Blake, Longwood (SRF), River-II, Jarrell, Stanislaus Complex 14k (STF), Big, Palmer, Indian (TNF) Branham (BLM), Paul, Snag (NPS), Sycamore, Trail, Stallion Spring, Middle (KRN), SLU-864

1988- Hwy 175 (LNU), Rumsey (LNU), Shell Creek (MEU), PG&E #19 (LNU), Fields (BTU), BLM 4516, 417 (LMU), Campbell (LNF), Burney (SHF), USFS #41 (SHF), Trinity (USFS #32), State #837 (RRU), State (RRU), State (350 acres), RRU), State #1807, Orange Co. Asst (RRU), State #1825 (RRU), State #2025, Spoor (BDU), State (MVU), Tonzi (AEU), Kern co #7,9 (KRN), Stent (TCU),

1989– Rock (Plumas), Feather (LMU), Olivas (BDU), State 1116 (RRU), Concorida (RRU), Prado (RRU), Black Mt. (MVU), Vail (CNF)

1990– Shipman (HUU), Lightning 379 (LMU), Mud, Dye (TGU), State 914 (RRU), Shultz (Yorba) (BDU), Bingo Rincon #3 (MVU), Dehesa #2 (MVU), SLU 1626 (SLU)

1991- Church (HUU), Kutras (SHF)

1992– Lincoln, Fawn (NEU), Clover, fountain (SHU), state, state 891, state, state (RRU), Aberdeen (BDU), Wildcat, Rincon (MVU), Cleveland (AEU), Dry Creek (MMU), Arroyo Seco, Slick Rock (BEU), STF #135 (TCU)

1993– Hoisington (HUU), PG&E #27 (with an undetermined cause, lol), Hall (TGU), state, assist, local (RRU), Stoddard, Opal Mt., Mill Creek (BDU), Otay #18, Assist/ Old coach (MVU), Eagle (CNF), Chevron USA, Sycamore (FKU), Guerrero, Duck

1994– Schindel Escape (SHU), blank (PNF), lightning #58 (LMU), Bridge (NEU), Barkley (BTU), Lightning #66 (LMU), Local (RRU), Assist #22 & #79 (SLU), Branch (SLO), Piute (BDU), Assist/ Opal#2 (BDU), Local, State, State (RRU), Gilman fire 7/24 (RRU), Highway #74 (RRU), San Felipe, Assist #42, Scissors #2 (MVU), Assist/ Opal#2 (BDU), Complex (BDF), Spanish (SBC)

1995-State 1983 acres, Lost Lake, State # 1030, State (1335 acres), State (5000 acres), Jenny, City (BDU), Marron #4, Asist #51 (SLO/VNC)

1996- Modoc NF 707 (Ambrose), Borrego (MVU), Assist #16 (SLU), Deep Creek (BDU), Weber (BDU), State (Wesley) 500 acres (RRU), Weaver (MMU), Wasioja (SBC/LPF), Gale (FKU), FKU 15832 (FKU), State (Wesley) 500 acres, Cabazon (RRU), State Assist (aka Bee) (RRU), Borrego, Otay #269 (MVU), Slaughter house (MVU), Oak Flat (TUU)

1997- Lightning #70 (LMU), Jackrabbit (RRU), Fernandez (TUU), Assist 84 (Military AFV) (SLU), Metz #4 (BEU), Copperhead (BEU), Millstream, Correia (MMU), Fernandez (TUU)

1998- Worden, Swift, PG&E 39 (MMU), Chariot, Featherstone, Wildcat, Emery, Deluz (MVU), Cajalco Santiago (RRU)

1999- Musty #2,3 (BTU), Border # 95 (MVU), Andrews, Roadside 9323 (MMU), Lacy (BDU), Range (SCU)

2000- Latrobe (AEU), Shell (SLU), Happy Camp (Inyo), Golden Fire (BDU)

2001- Pacheco (MMU), Orosco (CNF/MVU), Observation (LNF), Modoc Complex (LMU), Happy Camp Complex (SKU)

2002- Nicholas (MMU), Aliso Assist #73 (MVU), Assist, Leona, Williams (BDU), BLM D596, horse complex (LMU), KNF Assist #15 (SKU), Cajalco Evening State 925 (RRU), Airport, Bouquet, Copper, Inyo Complex (BDU)

2003- F.K.U. 7076 (LOC) 15k, Local (2) 12k 2k (RRU), MNF 964 Assist (LNU) 3+k

2004- F.K.U. 7654, NOD BBT4

2005- Pine (TUU)

2006- Phelps (FKU), BLM-2 (FKU), Olive (MMU), Alpaugh (TUU), Lgt. # 11,26, 53 (LMU), Cort, Coyote, Orchard Ranch (RRU)

2007- Little 5 (FKU), Brokeoff (SHU), Avenue 26/ Rd 195 (MMU/local)

2008- Jonson VMP (RRU), 85 (LNU), Wagers (MEU), STA 57 ONO CDF IGO 2 C2(SHU), Whitmore Rd/ Old Cow C2(SHU), Coleman,Fish Hatchery (SHU), EO2A (SHU), Igo 6,13, 15,16,17,18 (SHU), Lakehead (SHU), Daugherty (MEU), Breakneck (BTU), West Branch,Frey,Flea,Valley,Lynch (BTU), Squaw 1 Lightning 2 (MEU), Venture (SHU), 5-8,Cliff,Lightning, Popcorn (LMU), Juan Creek Lightning (MEU), Dixie (LMU), Alder Creek Beach Rd (MEU), Dino,Hwy 152 (MMU), Smokey Rim Empire Camp (BTU), Turkey (BEU), Rodeo 2 (TUU), Lackerman (BTU), Long (BTU)

2009- Oliver (RRU), Ash (MMU), One-Eleven (SHU L complex),

2010- Whites (FKU), Flynn (SCU-002885),

2011- none

2012- Billy (MMU), Lassen (FKU), Grape (KRN), Rushmore (RRU)

2013- River (MMU), Fox (LMU)

2014- Pierce (RRU), 59 (TCU), Gun Club (MMU), Kelley (MMU), Stony Loop (Monterey), Modoc Complex

2015- Carl Motar Grenade (MIL), Peanut (Monterey), Mad River Complex (SRF), GASQUET (SRF), Horno (MIL), Deer (KRN), Forebay Creek (MMU)

2016- Fort Flat (KRN)

2017- Deluz (MVU), Range (MIL Monterey), Quail Complex (KRN), Farad (HTF), Orleans Complex (SRF), R-21 (BLM), Summit Complex (STF), Rose (KRN), Buffalo (MIL MVU), Chris (HTF), Liberty (Local RRU)

2018- Alpha (MIL MVU), Yankee (MIL SLO), Pendleton Complex, West (CNF), Nacimiento (MIL Monterey), Branscome (SUI local)

2019-NONE

2020-NONE

2021- Hartman (PNF-000997), Lone Rock (PNF-001487), Union (ENF-001885), and Nelson (CAL FIRE).