Fire Perimeters - CAL FIRE [ds396]

Version Information

Firep22_1 was released in April 2023. Three hundred five fires from the 2022 fire season were added to the database (1 from BIA, 8 from BLM, 176 from CAL FIRE, 49 from Contract Counties, 14 from LRA, 8 from NPS, 38 from USFS, and 11 from USFW). The 2021 Dotta (part of Beckwourth Complex), Greenhorn, and Hartman fire perimeters were added. Another 45 fires were added by USFW from 2015-2021. The 1988 Hessel fire was added in LNU. The 2019 Cave fire was replaced with a more detailed perimeter submitted by Santa Barbara County. The 2017 Hudson, 2017 Lake, 2017 Jones, 2017 "37", 2019 Tucker, and 2019 Refuge perimeters were replaced with imagery digitized perimeters from USFW. Attributes were updated for 32 records. One hundred ten perimeters were removed due to duplication or being completely contained outside of California state borders. The field IRWINID was added to provide a unique ID; fires before 2022 are lacking this attribution (with the exception of those added in this publication where possible). The following fires were identified as meeting our collection criteria, but are not included in this version and will hopefully be added in the next update: 2022 Cable (CAL FIRE, AEU), 2022 All American (BIA, CRA).

If you would like a full briefing on these adjustments, please contact the data steward, Kim Wallin (kimberly.wallin@fire.ca.gov), CAL FIRE FRAP.

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CAL FIRE (including contract counties), USDA Forest Service Region 5, USDI Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service, and other agencies jointly maintain a comprehensive fire perimeter GIS layer for public and private lands throughout the state. The data covers fires back to 1878.

Current criteria for data collection are as follows:

CAL FIRE (including contract counties) submit perimeters greater than or equal to 10 acres in timber, greater than or equal to 50 acres in brush, or greater than or equal to 300 acres in grass, and/or greater than or equal to 3 damaged/ destroyed residential or commercial structures, and/or caused greater than or equal to 1 fatality.

All cooperating agencies submit perimeters greater than or equal to 10 acres.

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Discrepancies between wildfire perimeter data and CAL FIRE Redbook Large Damaging Fires

Large Damaging fires in California were first defined by the CAL FIRE Redbook, and has changed over time, and differs from the definition initially used to define wildfires required to be submitted for the initial compilation of this digital fire perimeter data.

In contrast, the definition of fires whose perimeter should be collected has changed once in the approximately 30 years the data has been in existence. Below are descriptions of changes in data collection criteria used when compiling these two datasets.

To facilitate comparison, this metadata includes a summary, by year, of fires in the Redbook, that do not appear in this fire perimeter dataset. It is followed by an enumeration of each Redbook fire missing from the spatial data.

Wildfire Perimeter criteria

~1991: 10 acres timber, 30 acres brush, 300 acres grass, damages or destroys three residence or one commercial structure or does $300,000 worth of damage

~2010: 10 acres timber, 30 acres brush, 300 acres grass, damages or destroys three or more structures (doesnt include out building, sheds, chicken coops, etc.)

Redbook Fire data criteria

1979 : Fires of a minimum of 300 acres that burn at least: 30 acres timber or 300 acres brush, or 1500 acres woodland or grass

1981 to 1979 criteria plus fires that took ,3000 hours of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection personnel time to suppress

1992 to 1981 criteria plus 1500 acres ag products, or destroys three residence or one commercial structure or does $300,000 damage

1993 to 1992 criteria but three or more structures destroyed replaces destroys three residence or one commercial structure and the 3,000 hours of California Department of Forestry personnel time to suppress is removed

2008 : simply 300 acres and larger

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Year and Number of missing Large Damaging Fires for that year

Year	# of Missing Redbook Fires
1979	22
1980	13
1981	15
1982	6
1983	3
1984	20
1985	52
1986	12
1987	56
1988	23
1989	8
1990	9
1991	2
1992	16
1993	17
1994	22
1995	9
1996	15
1997	9
1998	10
1999	7
2000	4
2001	5
2002	16
2003	5
2004	2
2005	1
2006	11
2007	3
2008	43
2009	3
2010	2
2011	0
2012	4
2013	2
2014	7
2015	10
2016	2
2017	11
2018	6
Total	483

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Enumeration of fires in the Redbook that are missing from Fire Perimeter data. Three letter unit code follows fire name.

1979 : Sylvandale (HUU), Kiefer (AEU), Taylor(TUU), Parker#2(TCU), PGE#10, Crocker(SLU), Silver Spur (SLU), Parkhill (SLU), Tar Springs #2 (SLU), Langdon (SCU), Truelson (RRU), Bautista (RRU), Crocker (SLU), Spanish Ranch (SLU), Parkhill (SLU), Oak Springs(BDU), Ruddell (BDF), Santa Ana (BDU), Asst. #61 (MVU), Bernardo (MVU), Otay #20

1980 : Lightning series (SKU), Lavida (RRU), Mission Creek (RRU), Horse (RRU), Providence (RRU), Almond (BDU), Dam (BDU), Jones (BDU), Sycamore (BDU), Lightning (MVU), Assist 73, 85, 138 (MVU)

1981 : Basalt (LNU), Lightning #25(LMU), Likely (MNF), USFS#5 (SNF), Round Valley (TUU), St. Elmo (KRN), Buchanan (TCU), Murietta (RRU), Goetz (RRU), Morongo #29 (RRU), Rancho (RRU), Euclid (BDU), Oat Mt. (LAC and VNC), Outside Origin #1 (MVU), Moreno (MVU)

1982 : Duzen (SRF), Rave (LMU), Sheep's trail (KRN), Jury (KRN), Village (RRU), Yuma (BDF)

1983: Lightning #4 (FKU), Kern Co. #13, #18 (KRN)

1984 : Bidwell (BTU), BLM D 284,337, PNF #115, Mill Creek (TGU), China hat (MMU), fey ranch, Kern Co #10, 25,26,27, Woodrow (KRN), Salt springs, Quartz (TCU), Bonanza (BEU), Pasquel (SBC), Orco asst. (ORC), Canel (local), Rattlesnake (BDF)

1985: Hidden Valley, Magic (LNU), Bald Mt. (LNU), Iron Peak (MEU), Murrer (LMU), Rock Creek (BTU), USFS #29, 33, Bluenose, Amador, 8 mile (AEU), Backbone, Panoche, Los Gatos series, Panoche (FKU), Stan #7, Falls #2 (MMU), USFS #5 (TUU), Grizzley, Gann (TCU), Bumb, Piney Creek, HUNTER LIGGETT ASST#2, Pine, Lowes, Seco, Gorda rat, Cherry (BEU), Las pilitas, Hwy 58 #2 (SLO), Lexington, Finley (SCU), Onions, Owens (BDU), Cabazon, Gavalin, Orco, Skinner, Shell, Pala (RRU), South Mt., Wheeler, Black Mt., Ferndale, (VNC), Archibald, Parsons, Pioneer (BDU), Decker, Gleason(LAC), Gopher, Roblar, Assist #38 (MVU)

1986 : Knopki (SRF), USFS #10 (NEU), Galvin (RRU), Powerline (RRU), Scout, Inscription (BDU), Intake (BDF), Assist #42 (MVU), Lightning series (FKU), Yosemite #1 (YNP), USFS Asst. (BEU), Dutch Kern #30 (KRN)

1987: Peach (RRU), Ave 32 (TUU), Conover (RRU), Eagle #1 (LNU), State 767 aka Bull (RRU), Denny (TUU), Dog Bar (NEU), Crank (LMU), White Deer (FKU), Briceburg (LMU), Post (RRU), Antelope (RRU), Cougar_I (SKU), Pilitas (SLU) Freaner (SHU), Fouts Complex (LNU), Slides (TGU), French (BTU), Clark (PNF), Fay/Top (SQF), Under, Flume, Bear Wallow, Gulch, Bear_1, Trinity, Jessie, friendly, Cold, Tule, Strause, China/Chance, Bear, Backbone, Doe, (SHF) Travis Complex, Blake, Longwood (SRF), River_II, Jarrell, Stanislaus Complex 14k (STF), Big, Palmer, Indian (TNF) Branham (BLM), Paul, Snag (NPS), Sycamore, Trail, Stallion Spring, Middle (KRN), SLU_864

1988: Hwy 175 (LNU), Rumsey (LNU), Shell Creek (MEU), PGE #19 (LNU), Fields (BTU), BLM 4516, 417 (LMU), Campbell (LNF), Burney (SHF), USFS #41 (SHF), Trinity (USFS #32), State #837 (RRU), State (RRU), State (350 acres), RRU), State #1807, Orange Co. Asst (RRU), State #1825 (RRU), State #2025, Spoor (BDU), State (MVU), Tonzi (AEU), Kern co #7,9 (KRN), Stent (TCU),

1989 : Rock (Plumas), Feather (LMU), Olivas (BDU), State 1116 (RRU), Concorida (RRU), Prado (RRU), Black Mt. (MVU), Vail (CNF)

1990: Shipman (HUU), Lightning 379 (LMU), Mud, Dye (TGU), State 914 (RRU), Shultz (Yorba) (BDU), Bingo Rincon #3 (MVU), Dehesa #2 (MVU), SLU 1626 (SLU)

1991: Church (HUU), Kutras (SHF)

1992 : Lincoln, Fawn (NEU), Clover, fountain (SHU), state, state 891, state, state (RRU), Aberdeen (BDU), Wildcat, Rincon (MVU), Cleveland (AEU), Dry Creek (MMU), Arroyo Seco, Slick Rock (BEU), STF #135 (TCU)

1993 : Hoisington (HUU), PGE #27 (with an undetermined cause, lol), Hall (TGU), state, assist, local (RRU), Stoddard, Opal Mt., Mill Creek (BDU), Otay #18, Assist/ Old coach (MVU), Eagle (CNF), Chevron USA, Sycamore (FKU), Guerrero, Duck

1994: Schindel Escape (SHU), blank (PNF), lightning #58 (LMU), Bridge (NEU), Barkley (BTU), Lightning #66 (LMU), Local (RRU), Assist #22 and #79 (SLU), Branch (SLO), Piute (BDU), Assist/ Opal#2 (BDU), Local, State, State (RRU), Gilman fire 7/24 (RRU), Highway #74 (RRU), San Felipe, Assist #42, Scissors #2 (MVU), Assist/ Opal#2 (BDU), Complex (BDF), Spanish (SBC)

1995: State 1983 acres, Lost Lake, State # 1030, State (1335 acres), State (5000 acres), Jenny, City (BDU), Marron #4, Asist #51 (SLO/VNC)

1996 : Modoc NF 707 (Ambrose), Borrego (MVU), Assist #16 (SLU), Deep Creek (BDU), Weber (BDU), State (Wesley) 500 acres (RRU), Weaver (MMU), Wasioja (SBC/LPF), Gale (FKU), FKU 15832 (FKU), State (Wesley) 500 acres, Cabazon (RRU), State Assist (aka Bee) (RRU), Borrego, Otay #269 (MVU), Slaughter house (MVU), Oak Flat (TUU)

1997: Lightning #70 (LMU), Jackrabbit (RRU), Fernandez (TUU), Assist 84 (Military AFV) (SLU), Metz #4 (BEU), Copperhead (BEU), Millstream, Correia (MMU), Fernandez (TUU)

1998: Worden, Swift, PGE 39 (MMU), Chariot, Featherstone, Wildcat, Emery, Deluz (MVU), Cajalco Santiago (RRU)

1999 : Musty #2,3 (BTU), Border # 95 (MVU), Andrews, Roadside 9323 (MMU), Lacy (BDU), Range (SCU)

2000: Latrobe (AEU), Shell (SLU), Happy Camp (Inyo), Golden Fire (BDU)

2001 : Pacheco (MMU), Orosco (CNF/MVU), Observation (LNF), Modoc Complex (LMU), Happy Camp Complex (SKU)

2002 : Nicholas (MMU), Aliso Assist #73 (MVU), Assist, Leona, Williams (BDU), BLM D596, horse complex (LMU), KNF Assist #15 (SKU), Cajalco Evening State 925 (RRU), Airport, Bouquet, Copper, Inyo Complex (BDU)

2003 : F.K.U. 7076 (LOC) 15k, Local (2) 12k 2k (RRU), MNF 964 Assist (LNU) 3+k

2004 : F.K.U. 7654, NOD BBT4

2005 : Pine (TUU)

2006 : Phelps (FKU), BLM-2 (FKU), Olive (MMU), Alpaugh (TUU), Lgt. # 11,26, 53 (LMU), Cort, Coyote, Orchard Ranch (RRU)

2007 : Little 5 (FKU), Brokeoff (SHU), Avenue 26/ Rd 195 (MMU/local)

2008 : Jonson VMP (RRU), 85 (LNU), Wagers (MEU), STA 57 ONO CDF IGO 2 C2(SHU), Whitmore Rd/ Old Cow C2(SHU), Coleman,Fish Hatchery (SHU), EO2A (SHU), Igo 6,13, 15,16,17,18 (SHU), Lakehead (SHU), Daugherty (MEU), Breakneck (BTU), West Branch,Frey,Flea,Valley,Lynch (BTU), Squaw 1 Lightning 2 (MEU), Venture (SHU), 5_8,Cliff,Lightning, Popcorn (LMU), Juan Creek Lightning (MEU), Dixie (LMU), Alder Creek Beach Rd (MEU), Dino,Hwy 152 (MMU), Smokey Rim Empire Camp (BTU), Turkey (BEU), Rodeo 2 (TUU), Lackerman (BTU), Long (BTU)

2009 : Oliver (RRU), Ash (MMU), One-Eleven (SHU L complex),

2010 : Whites (FKU), Flynn (SCU-002885),

2011 : none

2012 : Billy (MMU), Lassen (FKU), Grape (KRN), Rushmore (RRU)

2013 : River (MMU), Fox (LMU)

2014 : Pierce (RRU), 59 (TCU), Gun Club (MMU), Kelley (MMU), Stony Loop (Monterey), Modoc Complex

2015 : Carl Motar Grenade (MIL), Peanut (Monterey), Mad River Complex (SRF), GASQUET (SRF), Horno (MIL), Deer (KRN), Forebay Creek (MMU)

2016 : Fort Flat (KRN)

2017 : Deluz (MVU), Range (MIL Monterey), Quail Complex (KRN), Farad (HTF), Orleans Complex (SRF), R-21 (BLM), Summit Complex (STF), Rose (KRN), Buffalo (MIL MVU), Chris (HTF), Liberty (Local RRU)

2018 : Alpha (MIL MVU), Yankee (MIL SLO), Pendleton Complex, West (CNF), Nacimiento (MIL Monterey), Branscome (SUI local)

2019 : NONE

2020: NONE

2021 : Lone Rock (PNF-001487), Union (ENF-001885), and Nelson (CAL FIRE)

2022: 2022 Cable (CAL FIRE, AEU), 2022 All American (BIA, CRA)

Disclaimer : The State makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or adequacy of these data and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in these data. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to these data.

This is the most complete digital record of fire history in California. However, it is still incomplete in many respects. Fires are undoubtedly missing or have missing or incorrect attribute data. Some fires are missing because historical records were lost or damaged, were too small for the minimum cutoffs, had inadequate documentation or have not yet been incorporated into the database. For example, the 2008 Lone Pine fire perimeter has never been collected and may never be.

Other errors with the fire perimeter database include duplicate fires and over-generalization. While the data capture process attempts to identify duplicate fires resulting from multiple data sources (e.g., the USFS and CAL FIRE both captured and submitted the fire perimeter), some duplicates may still exist. Additionally, over-generalization, particularly with large old fires may show unburned "islands" within the final perimeter as burned. Users of the fire perimeter database must exercise caution in application of the data. Careful use of the fire perimeter database will prevent users from drawing inaccurate or erroneous conclusions from the data.