2004 California wildfires

7,898 wildfires^[1] burned 311,024 acres (1,258.67 square kilometres) in the US state of California in 2004.^[1]

2004 California wildfires
Manzanita burns in a small 2004 wildfire in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Date(s)	January 1 – December 31, 2004
Statistics[1]
Total fires	7,898[1]
Total area	311,024 acres (1,258.67 km2)[1]
Impacts
Deaths	2 firefighters[2]
Damage	>$296.9 million (2004 USD)[3]
Season
← 2003 2005 →

Background

Further information: List of California wildfires

The timing of "fire season" in California is variable, depending on the amount of prior winter and spring precipitation, the frequency and severity of weather such as heat waves and wind events, and moisture content in vegetation. Northern California typically sees wildfire activity between late spring and early fall, peaking in the summer with hotter and drier conditions. Occasional cold frontal passages can bring wind and lightning. The timing of fire season in Southern California is similar, peaking between late spring and fall. The severity and duration of peak activity in either part of the state is modulated in part by weather events: downslope/offshore wind events can lead to critical fire weather, while onshore flow and Pacific weather systems can bring conditions that hamper wildfire growth.^[4][5]

List of wildfires

Below is a list of all fires that exceeded 1,000 acres (4.0 km²) during the 2004 fire season.^[2] The list is taken from CAL FIRE's list of large fires.

Name	County	Acres	Km2	Start Date	Contained Date[a]	Notes
Pleasure Fire	Riverside	2,464	10.0	April 25, 2004	April 26, 2004
India	San Diego	2,040	8.3	May 2, 2004	May 3, 2004
Eagle	Riverside	8,831	35.7	May 2, 2004	May 7, 2004	41 structures destroyed
Cerrito	Riverside	16,460	66.6	May 3, 2004	May 7, 2004	26 structures destroyed
Cachuma	Santa Barbara	1,127	4.6	May 3, 2004	May 7, 2004	1 structure destroyed
Cottonwood	Riverside	1,845	7.5	May 12, 2004	May 15, 2004
Gaviota	Santa Barbara	7,440	30.1	June 5, 2004	June 11, 2004	4 structures destroyed
Meadow	Mariposa	5,060	20.5	June 27, 2004	July 1, 2004
Bluff	Shasta	3,304	13.4	June 28, 2004	September 13, 2004	Burned in Lassen Volcanic National Park[7]
Verbenia	Riverside	3,833	15.5	July 11, 2004	July 16, 2004
Gatos	Fresno	1,307	5.3	July 11, 2004	July 13, 2004
Pine	Los Angeles	17,418	70.5	July 12, 2004	July 21, 2004	15 structures destroyed, 1 firefighter fatality
Mataguary	San Diego	8,649	35.0	July 13, 2004	July 15, 2004	3 structures destroyed
State Melton	Riverside	3,667	14.8	July 17, 2004	July 20, 2004	20 structures destroyed
Foothill	Los Angeles	6,002	24.3	July 17, 2004	July 21, 2004
Pelican	Stanislaus	1,500	6.1	July 19, 2004	July 24, 2004
Crown Complex	Los Angeles	18,026	72.9	July 20, 2004	July 23, 2004	7 structures destroyed
Straylor	Lassen	3,422	13.8	July 22, 2004	July 29, 2004
Irongate	Siskiyou	2,400	9.7	July 24, 2004	July 26, 2004
Sims	Trinity	4,030	16.3	July 28, 2004	August 3, 2004	4 structures destroyed
East	Los Angeles	1,330	5.4	August 7, 2004	August 9, 2004
Copper	Calaveras	3,443	13.9	August 8, 2004	August 9, 2004
Kincaid	Santa Clara	1,246	5.0	August 8, 2004	August 10, 2004
Early	Tuolumne	1,670	6.8	August 9, 2004	August 11, 2004
Oregon	Butte	2,030	8.2	August 11, 2004	August 15, 2004	4 structures destroyed
Bear	Shasta	10,848	43.9	August 11, 2004	August 16, 2004	86 structures destroyed
Deep	Tulare	3,148	12.7	August 12, 2004	August 16, 2004
French	Shasta	13,005	52.6	August 14, 2004	August 20, 2004	30 structures destroyed
Geysers	Lake	12,525	50.7	September 3, 2004	September 8, 2004	21 structures destroyed
Pattison	Calaveras	2,476	10.0	September 3, 2004	September 5, 2004	125 structures destroyed
Cement	Napa	1,100	4.5	September 4, 2004	September 4, 2004
Runaway	San Bernardino	1,007	4.1	September 7, 2004	September 9, 2004
Old Highway	Mariposa	1,347	5.5	September 12, 2004	September 15, 2004
Power	Amador	16,800	68.0	October 6, 2004	October 21, 2004
Rumsey	Yolo	39,138	158.4	October 10, 2004	October 16, 2004	6 structures destroyed
Freds	El Dorado	7,700	31.2	October 13, 2004	October 17, 2004

Notes

1. Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out.^[6]