Camp Fire

How are wildfires started? A look at the causes of some of the worst in California history

Sunday, November 25, 2018
These are the five most destructive wildfires in California history when measured by the number of structures destroyed.
As firefighters continue to work to contain the historically devastating Camp Fire, one question is on the minds of many who were affected: What started it?

RELATED: The deadliest wildfires in California history
[Ads /]
The cause of the Camp Fire is still under investigation, but victims sued Pacific Gas & Electric last week, accusing the utility company of failing to maintain its infrastructure, thereby causing the fire.

PHOTOS: Camp Fire burns through Butte County, California
In this aerial photograph, an evacuee encampment is seen at a Walmart parking lot in Chico, California on November 19, 2018.none
James Steen carries wood back to his tent to prepare his temporary home for an expected rainstorm at an evacuee encampment at a Walmart parking lot in Chico, California.none
Evacuee Brenda Wilson, of Magalia, sits outside her tent with her dog Scooby at an evacuee encampment at a Walmart parking lot in Chico, California on November 19, 2018.none
A man tends to his belongings at an evacuee encampment at a Walmart parking lot in Chico, California on November 19, 2018.none
Evacuee Josaiah Darby, 3, waits in a shopping cart as his mother Autumn Darby (right) looks through items at the Target parking lot.none
Jeremie (L) and and Jacob (R) Saylors look at religious statues they found in the burned remains of their home in Paradise, California on November 18, 2018.none
Mourners pray during a vigil for Camp Fire victims, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Chico, Calif.none
Lidia Steineman, who lost her home in the Camp Fire, prays during a vigil for fire victims on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Chico, Calif.none
Paradise Town Manager Lauren Gill cries during a vigil for Camp Fire victims on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, at the First Christian Church of Chico in Chico, Calif.none
President Donald Trump surveys the damage with Paradise Mayor Jody Jones as they tour the Skyway Villa Mobile Home and RV Park during his visit of the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.none
Gov.-elect Gavin Newson, FEMA Director Brock Long, President Donald Trump, Paradise mayor Jody Jones and Gov. Jerry Brown tour the Skyway Villa Mobile Home and RV Park on Nov. 17.none
Residents wave to the motorcade during President Donald Trump visit of the Camp Fire in Chico, Calif. on Saturday, November 17, 2018.none
People sit by their tents at a makeshift encampment outside a Walmart store for people displaced by the Camp Fire, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Chico, Calif.none
Dakota Keltner, right, rests on Havyn Cargill-Morris in a truck at a makeshift encampment outside a Walmart store on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Chico, Calif.none
In this Friday, Nov. 16, 2018 photo, a recovery dog searches for human remains in Paradise, Calif.none
A firefighter searches for human remains in a trailer park destroyed in the Camp Fire, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.none
Residences leveled by the Camp Fire line a neighborhood in Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018.none
In this Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018 photo, smoke hangs over the scorched remains of Old Town Plaza following the wildfire in Paradise, Calif.none
Investigators recover human remains at a home burned in the Camp Fire, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, in Magalia, Calif.none
A sheriff's deputy recovers the remains of a Camp Fire victim from an overturned car in Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018.none
Volunteer rescue workers search for human remains in the rubble of burned homes in Paradise, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018.none
A cadaver dog searches for victims of the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018.none
Gloves rest in a scorched car after the Camp Fire burned through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018.none
Tashi Nacario and Samantha Salas don masks to deal with the smoke from the Camp Fire that shrouds the state Capitol Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, in Sacramento, Calif.none
A light-rail train passes in front of the smoke shrouded state Capitol Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, in Sacramento, Calif.none
The Gold Nugget Museum, which was totally demolished by the Camp Fire, is shown in Paradise, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018.none
Suzanne Kaksonen, an evacuee of the Camp Fire, and her cockatoo Buddy camp at a makeshift shelter outside a Walmart store in Chico, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018.none
A sign hangs beside a tent at a makeshift shelter for evacuees of the Camp Fire in Chico, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018.none
Denise Chester, an evacuee of the Camp Fire, hugs her son Antonio Batres as she volunteers sorting clothes at a makeshift shelter in Chico, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018.none
Members of the California Army National Guard search a property for human remains at the Camp fire, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.none
A search and rescue worker, looking for Camp Fire victims, carries Susie Q. to safety after the cadaver dog fell through rubble at the Holly Hills Mobile Estates on Wednesday,.none
Tape marks a spot where sheriff's deputies recovered the body of a Camp Fire victim on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.none
Sarah Gronseth kisses her dog Branch after losing her home on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Chico Calif. Gronseth, a teacher, evacuated some of her high school students in her truck.none
The California state Capitol is viewed through the smoke from the Camp Fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Sacramento, Calif.none
A search and rescue workers search for human remains at a burned out trailer park from the Camp fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.none
Wildfire evacuee Greg Gibson looks for information about his missing neighbors at The Neighborhood Church in Chico, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018.none
A sign hangs on a wall at the Paradise Elementary School destroyed by the Camp Fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.none
Search and rescue workers search for human remains at a burned out trailer park from the Camp fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.none
A search and rescue workers searches a car for human remains at a trailer park burned out from the Camp Fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.none
A sign stands at a community destroyed by the Camp fire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.none
Following the Camp Fire, figurines rest atop a scorched car on Pearson Road, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
A sign still stands at a McDonald's restaurant burned in the Camp Fire, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, in the northern California town of Paradise.none
News reporters stand in an area burned by a wildfire, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.none
Chris and Nancy Brown embrace while searching through the remains of their home, leveled by the Camp Fire, in Paradise, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 12, 2018.none
Fire crews clear rubble from the road near a building burned in the Camp Fire, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.none
Nothing remains of the Ridgewood Mobile Home Park in Paradise, where a team recovered one victim on Monday, Nov. 12.none
A neighborhood of Pentz Road is decimated by the Camp Fire in Paradise, California on November 11, 2018.none
A home destroyed by Camp Fire seen in Chico, California on November 11, 2018.none
A home destroyed by Camp Fire in Paradise, California on November 11, 2018.none
A helicopter passes by the sun as it makes a water drop in the Feather River Canyon, east of Paradise, California on November 11, 2018.Creative Content
Deputy Coroner Justin Sponhaltz, of the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, recovers human remains found at a home destroyed by the Camp Fire, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018.AP
Anthropology students observe as human remains are recovered from a burned-out home at the Camp Fire, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
A firefighter rests after helping to find human remains found at a burned-out home at the Camp Fire, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
A tattered flag flies over a burned-out home at the Camp Fire, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
Flames from the Camp Fire burn near a home atop a ridge near Big Bend, California, on November 10, 2018.Creative Content
Firefighters discover a Purple Heart and other medals of valor at a burned property in Paradise, north of Sacramento, California on November 09, 2018.Creative Content
Araya Cipollini cries near the remains of her family's home burned in the Camp Fire, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
A deer walks past a destroyed home on Orrin Lane after the wildfire burned through Paradise, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.AP
Sheriff's deputies carry the remains of a victim of the Camp Fire into a hearse on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
Sheriff's deputies recover the remains of Camp Fire victims on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
A spiral staircase stands in the remains of a burned out home from the Camp Fire Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
Courtenay Jenvey inspects the remains of his neighbor's home Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. Jenvey was able to save his house during the fire.AP
Arbana Low Dog searches through a vehicle on Pearson Rd. after the wildfire burned through Paradise, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.AP
Eric England searches through a friend's vehicle on Pearson Rd. after the wildfire burned through Paradise, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.AP
A Jack In the Box destroyed by a massive wildfire is seen Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, near Paradise, Calif.AP
Three cars destroyed by a wildfire sit at a burned out home Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
The burned-out hulks of cars abandoned by their drivers sit along a road Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
Hospital beds and other equipment sit in a parking lot outside the Feather River Hospital Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
Hospital beds and other equipment sit in a parking lot outside the Feather River Hospital Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
A staircase that once led to another level is seen among the burned remains of a home Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.AP
A piece of art sits outside the burned remains of home Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, that was destroyed by a wildfire that swept through the area Thursday, in Paradise, Calif.AP
Cathy Fallon reacts as she stands near the charred remains of her home, Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
Larry Marple, right, accompanied by his son, Rod Marple, looks over the burned remains of his home, Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.AP
The burned remains of the Paradise Elementary school is seen Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.AP
Abandoned vehicles line Skyway after a wildfire burned through Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.AP
Flames consume a fast food restaurant as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.AP
A scorched vehicle sits parked at a used car dealership after a wildfire burned through Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.AP
The walls of a scorched antique shop stand on Skyway after a wildfire burned through Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.AP
A burned out car sits on the side of the road in Paradise, Calif., Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, after a wildfire swept through the area.AP
Rubble lines a lot on Skyway after a wildfire burned through Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.AP
Firefighters work to keep flames from spreading through the Shadowbrook apartment complex as a wildfire burns through Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.AP
Rocklin police officer Randy Law tends to a horse that was found wandering after the Camp Fire moved through the area on November 9, 2018, in Paradise, California.Creative Content
A business that was destroyed by the Camp Fire continues to smolder on November 9, 2018, in Paradise, California.Creative Content
Firefighters battle flames at the Shadowbrook apartment complex in Paradise, north of Sacramento, California on November 09, 2018.Creative Content
Abandoned vehicles sit on the side of a road in Paradise, north of Sacramento, California on November 09, 2018.Creative Content
A Cal Fire firefighter monitors a burning home as the Camp Fire moves through the area on November 9, 2018, in Magalia, California.Creative Content
Firefighters try to keep flames from burning home from spreading to a neighboring apartment complex as they battle the Camp Fire on November 9, 2018, in Paradise, California.Creative Content
Rocklin police officer Randy Law tends to a horse that was found wandering after the Camp Fire moved through the area on November 9, 2018, in Paradise, California.Creative Content
Firefighters battle flames at a burning apartment complex in Paradise, north of Sacramento, California on November 09, 2018.Creative Content
A sign is posted on the Paradise Skilled Nursing center as it is consumed by flames from the Camp Fire on November 8, 2018 in Paradise, California.none
Embers blow in the wind as the Camp Fire burns a KFC restaurant on November 8, 2018 in Paradise, California.none
A chimney remains at the site of a home that burned as the Camp Fire moves through the area on November 8, 2018 in Paradise, Californianone
A home burns as the Camp Fire moves through the area on November 8, 2018 in Paradise, California.none
Firefighters battle the Camp Fire as it tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Flames consume a car dealership as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Firefighter Adrien Mahnke pauses while battling the Camp Fire as it tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Flames climb trees as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Flames consume a car dealership as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
A scorched vehicle rests on a roadside as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Firefighter Adrien Mahnke pauses while battling the Camp Fire as it tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Flames consume a Kentucky Fried Chicken as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Emergency personnel evacuate patients as the Feather River Hospital burns while the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
A statue rests amid a charred lot as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Flames burn inside a van as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
A vintage car rests among debris as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
This photo provided by Nicole Kowalczyke shows a piece of a burned page that fell out of the sky in Chico, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
The setting sun turns blood red as it peers through smoke from the Camp Fire in northern Calif., Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
A home burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Medical personnel evacuate patients as the Feather River Hospital burns while the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
A home burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Medical personnel evacuate patients as the Feather River Hospital burns while the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018none
The Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Smoke from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., darkens the sky above the Butte College sig in Oroville, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Flames consume a building as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Flames consume a home as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
home burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Nurse Cassie Lerossignol hugs as coworker as the Feather River Hospital burns while the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Flames consume a car and building as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none
Medical workers move equipment from a makeshift emergency room while the Feather River Hospital burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.none


The November 2018 fire, which is both the deadliest and most destructive in California history, is not the only recent wildfire whose cause is under investigation.

RELATED: Most destructive California wildfires in history

While the cause of some remains unknown, some, such as 2003's Cedar Fire, were determined to be started by human-related causes, while others, such as 2012's Rush Fire, were caused by Mother Nature.

Here's a look at some of the worst wildfires the state has seen, in chronological order, and what caused them.

CAMP (Butte County), Nov. 2018

The Camp Fire is both the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history.

Official cause: Still under investigation

CARR (Shasta and Trinity counties), July 2018

The Carr Fire destroyed 1,604 structures, making it nearly as destructive as the Witch Fire. At 229,651 acres, it was among the largest in state history. Eight people died as a result of the Carr Fire.

Official cause: Human Related

MENDOCINO COMPLEX (Colusa, Lake, Mendocino & Glenn counties), July 2018

The Mendocino Complex Fires were by far the largest in state history, burning more than 459,000 acres. The fires destroyed 280 structures and caused one death.
[Ads /]


Official cause: Still under investigation

THOMAS (Ventura and Santa Barbara counties), Dec. 2017

At 281,893 acres, the Thomas Fire was the second largest fire in state history. It destroyed 1,063 structures and caused two deaths.

Official cause: Still under investigation

TUBBS (Napa and Sonoma counties), October 2017

The Tubbs Fire destroyed 5,636 structures. Until the Camp Fire, it was most destructive wildfire in state history. The Tubbs Fire was also among the most deadly recent fires, killing 22 people.

Official cause: Still under investigation

VALLEY (Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties), Sept. 2015

The Valley Fire burned 1,955 structures, one of the most destructive in state history.

Official cause: Electrical

RUSH (Lassen County), August 2012

The Rush Fire was among the state's largest at 271,911 acres in California (with an additional 43,666 acres in Nevada). Fortunately, it destroyed no structures and caused no deaths.

Official cause: Lightning

WITCH (San Diego County), Oct. 2007
[Ads /]
The fire destroyed 1,650 structures, making it the sixth most destructive in state history. At 197,990 acres, it was also among the 10 largest.

Official cause: Powerlines

CEDAR FIRE (San Diego County), October 2003

The Cedar Fire killed 15 people and destroyed 2,820 structures. It is also the third largest in state history, burning 273,246 acres.

Official cause: Human Related

TUNNEL - Oakland Hills (Alameda County), October 1991

The Tunnel Fire was the third deadliest in state history, killing 25 people. It also destroyed 2,900 structures, making it the third most destructive.

Official cause: Rekindle

RATTLESNAKE (Glenn County), July 1953

The Rattlesnake Fire killed 15 people, one of the deadliest in state history.

Official cause: Arson

GRIFFITH PARK - (Los Angeles County), October 1933

This fire killed 29 people. Until the Camp Fire, Griffith Park was the deadliest wildfire in California history.

Official cause: Unknown

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Report a correction or typo
Copyright © 2024 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.