Before
After
6. The Wallow Fire, Bear Wallow Wilderness and vicinity, AZ
> Year: 2011
> Fatalities: 0
> Area burned: 469,000 acres
This blaze consumed almost 550,000 acres in this wilderness area in eastern Arizona’s Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest and in portions of neighboring New Mexico. It was set off by an unattended campfire.
Before
After
7. Yarnell Hill Fire, Yarnell, AZ
> Year: 2013
> Fatalities: 19
> Area burned: 8,400+ acres
An elite squad of 19 Arizona firefighters were killed in this blaze, making It the deadliest wildfire for firefighters since a California blaze in 1933. Radio communication problems and changing wind speeds and directions were blamed for the tragedy. A lightning strike caused the combustion.
Before
After
8. Knysna Fires, Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa
> Year: 2017
> Fatalities: 7
> Area burned: 24,710 acres
South Africa Forestry described this blaze as “probably the biggest fire disaster in South Africa in modern times.” The Knysna fire chief suggested that the fire began in a clearing on private land, with quick-burning pine cones providing fuel.
Before
After
9. Lolo Peak Fire, Lolo National Forest, Montana
> Year: 2017
> Fatalities: 1
> Area burned: 53,902 acres
The sole fatality in this blaze near Missoula, which was started by a lightning strike, was a California firefighter, who was killed not by the flames but in a tree-felling accident. Firefighting efforts were temporarily suspended after reports of shots being fired in the affected area.
Before
After
10. Pedrógão Grande Fire, Pedrógão Grande and vicinity, Portugal
> Year: 2017
> Fatalities: 64
> Area burned: 73,000 acres
About half the 64 victims from this blaze were killed in their cars, trapped on a road leading through a forest. A fire expert from Portugal’s University of Coimbra told reporters that the fire may have started simultaneously in several places, explaining why it spread so fast.
