The deadliest wildfires in US history

The cause of the Hawaii wildfires remains unknown. Here are some of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history and the potential wildfire risks in the country.

The most terrifying fires in American history, picture 1 — Lahaina town, Hawaii after the forest fire. Photo: Reuters

The most catastrophic wildfire in US history

The Wisconsin fire took place on October 8, 1871, and killed 1,152 people, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). At the time, the town of Peshtigo was home to about 2,000 people.

The town was surrounded by pine forests and all the town's structures were made of wood, including the sidewalks. The town was also home to the world's largest lumber mill at the time.

On October 8, 1871, a low-pressure system created a strong wind and turned a small nearby fire into a huge, uncontrollable blaze. Survivors described the fire as a wall of fire that consumed the entire town in just minutes.

Cloquet and Hinckley wildfires

According to the US Library of Congress , the Maui wildfire is the deadliest since 1918.

The Cloquet Fire of 1918 burned for four days in northern Minnesota, sparked by sparks from a train hitting the railroad tracks. The NFPA determined that 453 people died in the fire.

In 1894, a gust of wind blew up and turned a few small fires into a sea of fire, destroying the town of Hinckley and many surrounding communities. The fire burned 400 square miles and killed 418 people.

Potential risks

The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) defines a wildfire as "an unwanted, unplanned fire that occurs in a natural area, such as a forest, grassland, or prairie."

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly half of the land in the United States is forested and grassland. Currently, nearly 45 million homes in the United States are located near or adjacent to such areas.

The National Interagency Fire Center estimates that 71.8 million homes in the United States are “potentially impacted by wildfires.” Since 2018, wildfires in the United States have destroyed nearly 63,000 structures.

The cause of several fires, including the most recent one in Hawaii, remains unknown.

However, the Maui fires and the California Camp Fire of 2018, as well as the Peshtigo and Hinckley fires, all occurred during dry, windy conditions.

The role of climate change

Climate change is increasing hot and dry conditions, which cause fires to spread faster, burn longer and burn more intensely. Hotter weather also dehydrates vegetation, turning it into dry fuel that helps fires spread.

Climate change is not the only factor causing wildfires. Forest management and ignition sources also play a role.

Certain actions can help limit severe fires, such as actively burning dry vegetation in a controlled manner.

In 2022, there were 66,255 wildfires in the US, nearly four times the 18,229 in 1983.

Quoc Thien (according to Reuters)

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