Basin Complex Fire
| Basin Complex Fire |
|---|
|
Aerial view of Basin Fire Burn Area at Julia Pfeiffer Burns Park on September 1. |
| Location |
Monterey, California |
|---|
| Statistics |
|---|
| Date(s) |
21 June 2008 - 27 July 2008 |
|---|
| Burned area |
162,818 acres (658.90 km2)[1] |
|---|
| Cause |
Lightning |
|---|
The Basin Complex Fire near Big Sur started on June 21 as a result of a lightning strike and burned 162,818 acres (658.90 km2), eventually torching the Ventana Wilderness. More than $120 million was spent to fight the fire, making it is the most expensive fire in California history, and the second most expensive in U.S. history, exceeded only by the Biscuit Fire in 2002.[2]
The fire forced the evacuation of Big Sur prior to the July 4 holiday weekend.[3] Camp Pico Blanco was forced to evacuate the camp and diverted its Scouts to Boulder Creek Scout Reservation in Santa Cruz. The camp lost only one building, an outlying ranger's cabin.[4] Big Sur residents were permitted to return on July 9.[5] While further north, the town of Paradise in Butte County was evacuated when flames burned close.
As of 2014 the fire is the 10th largest wildfire in California since accurate records began being kept in 1932.[1]
References
- 1 2 "Top 20 Largest California Wildfires" (PDF). CAL FIRE. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
- ↑ "Basin Complex Fire (Reposted)". Western Institute for Study of the Environment. W.I.S.E. Fire Tracking. July 25, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ↑ Fehd, Amanda (July 3, 2008). "Big Sur evacuated as massive wildfire spreads". SignOnSanDiego.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
- ↑ "Boy Scout Camp Damaged in Basin Creek Complex Fire" (PDF). Salinas, California: Monterey Bay Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. July 23, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
- ↑ Thompson, Don (2008-07-09). "Thousands evacuate as flames near Paradise, Calif.". Associated Press.
