Western Fire Season

Losses, 2024 dollars

$2.3 billion

Losses at the time

$1.3 billion

Deaths

21

The losses and deaths are NCEI’s, counting everything the disaster did. The episodes below are only what the Weather Service filed in its Storm Events record, which counts damage differently and often not at all, so the two never add up and are shown apart.

• Wildfire in Oregon, August 30 to 31, 20021 eventRed Flag conditions were observed for low relative humidity recoveries coupled with gusty northeast winds at both the Red Mound RAWS (fire weather zone 618) and the Quail Prairie RAWS (fire weather zone 619).
• Wildfire in Montana, August 31, 20021 eventKraft Spring Complex: Begin Date: August 31, 2002End Date: September 9, 2002Acres Burned: 69,900Total Persons: 471Structural Loss: 1Cost: 2M
• Wildfire in Colorado, September 1 to 12, 2002$500,000 · 1 eventThe Big Fish fire began in mid July and was caused by lightning. The fire occurred in the White River National Forest and consumed 17,506 acres of timber, as well as 9 structures.
• Wildfire in Colorado, September 1 to 14, 20021 eventThe Mount Zirkel Complex was comprised of the Burn Ridge and Hinman fires. These were lightning caused fires which began in July and August. This complex was located in the Routt National Forest/Mount Zirkel Wilderness area. The fires consumed 31,016 acres of timber.
• Wildfire in Colorado, September 1 to 11, 20021 eventThe Lost Lakes fire began in mid July due to lightning. The fire occurred in the Routt National Forest and consumed 5,538 acres of timber. Favorable weather conditions and precipitation received on the fire in early September resulted in minimal fire behavior.
• Wildfire in Wyoming, September 1 to 3, 20021 eventThe Pass Creek Wildfire continued to burn into early September. The fire burned 13,433 acres in August and September.
• Wildfire in Wyoming, September 1 to 8, 20021 eventThe Commissary Ridge Wildfire was started by lightning. The fire burned 3,500 acres. Also, one summer home and one outbuilding were destroyed.
• Wildfire in Oregon, September 1 to 2, 20024 eventsA Red Flag Warning was issued at 1500 PDT on 08/31 for fire weather zones 618/619/620 for forecast poor relative humidity recoveries. Major wildfires were ongoing in the warning area.
• Wildfire in California, September 1 to 30, 20021 eventThe Wolf Fire, inside Yosemite National Park, was started on July 11th by lightning and was allowed to burn through the month of August. This resource burn totaled 1454 acres by September 30th (last date of request for spot forecast).
• Wildfire in California, September 1 to 12, 200214 injured · $13 million · 1 eventThe Curve Fire burned 20,857 acres of land in the Angeles National Forest. The Curve Fire, which was caused by candles from a ritual sacrifice, destroyed 73 structures and injured at least 14 people.
• Wildfire in California, September 2 to 3, 20021 eventThe Freeway Fire burned over 1,100 acres of land in the Angeles National Forest. The Freeway Fire closed down Interstate 5 for several hours, but no injuries or deaths were reported.
• Wildfire in California, September 4 to 5, 20021 eventA brush fire in the Santa Ana River bed burned 8 acres and closed Interstate 15 for two hours between Eastvale and Norco. Shifting wind, extremely dry vegetation, and the confined area all hampered fire fighting efforts.
• Wildfire and Hail in Montana, September 5 to 6, 20020.75 in hail · 2 eventsCow Creek:Cause: Lightning Strike. Fire grew to 2,000 acres within four hours.Begin Date: September 6, 2002End Date: September 8, 2002Acres Burned: 5495Total Persons: 113Structural Loss: 2Cost: 223,000K
• Wildfire in California, September 5 to 6, 20021 eventA one acre brush fire was caused by a burning vehicle.
• Wildfire in Hawaii, September 9, 20021 eventA brush fire burned nearly 50 acres near the intersection of Kaukonahua Road and Farrington Highway, near Thomson Corner. No homes or other structures were threatened by the blaze, and there were no injuries. The cause of the fire was not known.
• Wildfire in California, September 11, 20021 eventA brush fire closed Highway 60 between Theodore Street in Moreno Valley and Interstate 10 in Beaumont. In all, 20 acres were burned.
• Wildfire in Washington, September 13 to 23, 20021 eventThe Ewe Neck fire was a lightning sparked fire which burned 100 acres. A total of 250 firefighters fought this fire, along with retardant drops by planes and helicopters.
• Wildfire in Hawaii, September 13, 20021 eventA brush fire scorched more than 50 acres near Iroquois Point Road, with the flames moving quickly toward new homes in the Ewa-by-Gentry subdivision. However, the fire did not cause any major property damage or injuries.
• Wildfire in Oregon, September 13 to 15, 20022 eventsA Red Flag Warning was issued for Fire Weather zones 624/625 effective at the above times for expected gusty winds combined with low relative humidities. South winds 15-25 were reported with minimum relative humidities of 5-15% and ridgetop recoveries in the 20-30% range.
• Wildfire in Oregon, September 15 to 19, 20021 eventAround 200 firefighters were assigned to the Anniversary fire, which was sparked by lightning on an unknown date near the bottom of Big Canyon. Three engines, one dozer, four air tankers, one helicopter, and two water tenders were assigned to this fire, which burned 290 acres.
• Wildfire in California, September 16, 20021 eventA discarded cigarette butt started a brush fire that grew to 247 acres before it was brought under control. Firefighters were able to protect all threatened structures.
• Wildfire in Hawaii, September 17, 2002$7,000 · 1 eventA fire burned almost 70 acres of sugar cane, kiawe, and brush along Hansen Road, not far from the Hansen Road-Hana Highway intersection. Smoke from the fire shut down Hansen Road for about four hours in the afternoon hours of the 17th.
• Wildfire in Oregon, September 18 to 21, 20023 eventsA Red Flag warning effective at the above times was issued for fire weather zones 618/619 for gusty ridgetop winds and poor relative humidity recoveries during an offshore wind event.
• Wildfire in California, September 22 to 30, 200214 injured · $15 million · 1 eventThe Williams Fire burned 38.094 acres of land in the Angeles National Forest. This fire, which was located about 25 miles north of Azusa, destroyed 77 structures, including 62 cabins. No reports on the number of possible injuries have been received.
• Wildfire in Oregon, September 23 to 26, 20024 eventsA Red Flag warning effective 09/23-26/02 was issued for fire weather zones 618/619 for gusty ridgetop winds and poor relative humidity recoveries during an offshore wind event.
• Wildfire in Hawaii, September 28 to 30, 20021 eventA brush fire burned almost 60 acres over several days in Kalihi Valley, above Kalihi Elementary School. At times, the fire threatened several homes and the school.
• Wildfire in California, October 2, 20021 eventA brush fire in the Santa Ana River bottom burned 10 acres before being brought under control.
• Wildfire in Oregon, October 5 to 9, 20023 eventsA Red Flag Warning was issued at the above times. The warning was for strong ridgetop winds and poor relative humidity recoveries in fire weather zones 618/619. These zones include all or part of the above counties. Unfortunately, no verifying data was available for this warning.
• Wildfire in Hawaii, October 6, 20021 eventA brush fire scorched about 60 acres of mature sugar cane a mile above Hana Highway near Maliko Gulch. Maui firefighters used several fire engines and the Air One helicopter to get the blaze under control.
• Wildfire in Hawaii, October 7 to 9, 20021 eventA brush fire that had burned almost 60 acres over several days at the end of September flared again over a three day period in early October. The fire was located above Kalihi Elementary School in Kalihi Valley. However, no injuries or serious property damage were reported.
• Wildfire in Oregon, October 11 to 12, 20026 eventsA Red Flag Warning was issued at the above times. The warning was for strong ridgetop winds and poor relative humidity recoveries in fire weather zones 617/618/619/620/621/622/623. These zones include all or part of the above counties.
• Wildfire in California, October 13, 20021 eventNamed the "Cold Fire", it began during the early morning hours along a remote ridge about 1 mile east of Highway 18, just above Waterman Canyon. In all, about 25 acres were burned.
• Wildfire in Hawaii, October 26, 20021 eventThree children playing with matches ignited a 50-acre blaze south of Kona Palisades on the Big Island, between Wela Place and Kahahiaka Street. Helicopters made water drops to help protect nearby homes. However, there were no reports of serious property damage or injuries.
• Wildfire in Oregon, November 1, 20025 eventsA Red Flag Warning was issued at 1530 PDT on 10/31/02 and cancelled at 1200 PDT on 11/01/02. The warning was for strong ridgetop winds and poor relative humidity recoveries in fire weather zones 618/619/620/621 and southern zone 616.
• Wildfire in California, November 20 to 22, 20022 injured · 1 eventDry vegetation and winds gusting to 35 mph caused a brush fire to grow to 477 acres. No structures were threatened. Two fire fighters suffered from heat exhaustion and dehydration.
• Wildfire and High Wind in California, November 26, 20021 injured · $320,000 · 70 kt wind · 6 eventsTrees and power poles were knocked down in Redlands, Riverside, Tustin, Santa Ana, San Clemente, and Lakeside. Several cars and houses were damaged.
• Wildfire in California, November 27 to 29, 2002$22,000 · 1 eventThe cause of the Rock Creek fire is unknown but it burned 420 acres before containment by Sierra NF crews.

Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 2002Tornadoes in 2002

NOAA NCEI, U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2025), https://doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.