New Delhi: California wildfires are not new. But this year’s wildfire in Los Angeles, California, caused a lot of damage, and the economic loss is estimated to be $50 billion, according to media reports. The California wildfire death toll has risen to 10.
Several wildfires throughout history have resulted in significant loss of life and extensive damage. In this article, let us look at the list of deadliest wildfires that have cost lives over the years.
A Century of Devastation: Notable Wildfires and Their Impact
- Peshtigo Fire, 1871
- Cloquet Fire, 1918
- Great Hinckley Fire, 1894
- Black Dragon Fire, 1987
- Black Saturday bushfires, 2009
- Mati Fire, 2018
- Great Fire of 1910
The Peshtigo fire was a massive forest fire that occurred on October 8, 1871, in northeastern Wisconsin, USA. It affected much of the southern half of the Door Peninsula and parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The town of Peshtigo, which had about 1,700 residents, was the largest community impacted. The fire burned around 1.2 million acres (490,000 hectares) and is the deadliest wildfire in history. The death toll is estimated to be between 1,500 and 2,500, but the exact number remains uncertain. Evidence from mass graves suggests that more people may have died than in the 1889 Johnstown flood, which killed over 2,200.
Cloquet Fire
The Cloquet Fire was a huge forest fire in northern Minnesota, USA, in October 1918. It started from sparks on local railroads during dry conditions. The fire caused major damage in western Carlton County, especially in Moose Lake, Cloquet, and Kettle River. Cloquet was the hardest hit and faced the worst natural disaster in Minnesota history for one day with the highest casualty numbers. In total, 453 people died, and 52,000 were injured or displaced. The fire destroyed 38 communities, burned 250,000 acres (100,000 hectares), and caused property damage of about $73 million (about $1.479 billion today). The federal government provided $13 million in aid.
Great Hinckley Fire
The Great Hinckley Fire was a large fire in the pine forests of Minnesota in September 1894. It burned at least 200,000 acres (310 square miles), including the town of Hinckley. The official death count was 418, but the actual number may have been higher, with some estimates reaching 476.
Black Dragon Fire
The Black Dragon Fire, also known as the Daxing’anling Wildfire, was the deadliest forest fire in China. It started in Daxing’anling Prefecture, Heilongjiang, on May 6, 1987, and continued until June 2, 1987. The fire spread into the Soviet Union and covered about 10,000 square kilometres (2.5 million acres), destroying 7.3 million hectares (18 million acres) of forest. It left about 266 people injured and caused 211 deaths, making 50,000 people homeless. It was one of the largest wildfires in history and the biggest in China in over 300 years.
Black Saturday Bushfires
The Black Saturday bushfires occurred in Victoria, Australia, on February 7, 2009. These fires were among the worst bushfire disasters in Australian history. The extreme weather conditions helped the fires spread quickly, resulting in 173 deaths, the highest loss of life from a bushfire in Australia. Many people lost their homes and family members. On that day, around 400 individual fires were recorded, which is why it is often called Black Saturday.
Mati Fire
In July 2018, a series of wildfires broke out in Greece during an intense heat wave, particularly in the coastal areas of Attica. The Mati fire resulted in 104 confirmed deaths, making it one of the deadliest wildfires in the 21st century, following the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Australia. More than 700 residents were evacuated or rescued, mainly from seaside settlements near Rafina. Rescuers found many victims in desperate situations, with some discovered just meters from the sea.
Great Fire of 1910
The Great Fire of 1910, also known as the Big Blowup, was a massive wildfire in the Inland Northwest region of the United States during the summer of 1910. It burned three million acres (4,700 square miles) across northern Idaho and western Montana, affecting parts of eastern Washington and British Columbia. The fire blazed over two days on August 20–21, fueled by strong winds that merged smaller fires into a large firestorm. The fire killed 87 people, mostly firefighters, destroyed many structures, and caused an estimated billion dollars worth of damage to timber.
This article details some of history’s deadliest wildfires, highlighting the immense loss of life and widespread destruction caused by these catastrophic events. From the Peshtigo Fire of 1871, estimated to have killed 1,500-2,500, to the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009 which claimed 173 lives, the article examines the scale of these disasters and their lasting impact. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
