This is a list of wildfires across the United States during 2025, that have burned more than 1,000 acres (400 hectares), produced significant structural damage or casualties, or otherwise been notable. Acreage and containment figures may not be up to date.
While most wildfires in the United States occur from May to November, wildfires can occur during any time of the year. Peak fire season is normally in August, when it is the hottest and driest. Wildfires outside of the fire season are becoming more common from climate change and changing weather patterns. Rising temperatures are leading to earlier snowmelt and later fall and winter precipitation. Drought and hot, dry weather events are becoming more common. Forests pests, such as bark beetles, and invasive species, such as cheatgrass, kill trees and make forests more vulnerable. Areas with dense vegetation or tree cover provide ample fire fuel.[3]
Wildfire season is expected to worsen from climate change. Warmer, drier conditions are expected to increase fire severity in California and the Southwest.[3]
Seasonal forecasts
The Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook, month-by-month data from 2025.
In March 2025, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC), a branch of NOAA, issued its National Seasonal Fire Outlook. This forecast projected above-normal wildfire risk for much of California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and the southwestern United States. The elevated risk was linked primarily to persistent atmospheric patterns resembling La Niña, which typically reduce precipitation and increase temperatures in these regions. The outlook considered factors such as expected temperature and precipitation anomalies, soil moisture, and vegetation dryness to predict fire activity for the upcoming season.[4]
Climatic conditions
United States drought map as of August 26, 2025
During spring and early summer 2025, observed temperature anomalies across the western U.S. averaged approximately +1.5°C above the 30-year climatological norm. These warmer-than-average conditions contributed to earlier snowmelt and accelerated drying of live and dead vegetation, factors known to increase wildfire potential. These temperature trends aligned with the CPC's seasonal forecast and contributed to extending the typical wildfire season window.[5]
By mid-2025, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported that nearly 45% of the western United States was under severe to exceptional drought conditions, with California and Nevada among the hardest-hit states. These drought conditions stressed vegetation and depleted soil moisture, significantly reducing fuel moisture content and thereby increasing wildfire risk and severity across large areas.[6]
Throughout the season, live fuel moisture levels dropped below 70%, and dead fuel moisture fell below 5% in many fire-prone ecosystems. These critically low moisture levels meant vegetation was highly flammable, facilitating rapid wildfire ignition and spread. Fire Danger Ratings issued by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) frequently reached "High" to "Extreme" during peak fire months, driven by hot, dry winds and low relative humidity. Enhancements in fire monitoring technology were seen in 2025 with the operational deployment of the GOES-T satellite system, which provided real-time thermal imagery to aid in wildfire detection and management.[7][8][9]
Seasonal summary
The wildfire season commenced early with numerous ignitions in May 2025. Favorable fire weather conditions facilitated rapid expansion of multiple fires, with several surpassing 10,000 acres by early summer. Notable fire activity was recorded in California's Sierra Nevada foothills and Oregon's Cascade Range, where rugged terrain and dry fuels compounded fire growth and suppression challenges.[10]
Firefighting efforts in 2025 required record mobilization of personnel and resources. Incident management teams, ground crews, and aerial firefighting assets were extensively deployed to manage numerous large and complex fires. However, prescribed burning and mechanical fuel reduction strategies faced limitations due to narrow windows of safe weather conditions and ongoing drought, constraining mitigation options during the critical peak season.[11][12]
List
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.
2025 California wildfires – Evacuations forced; destroyed at least 6,837 structures and damaged 966 in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, northwest of Santa Monica; twelve confirmed fatalities and four confirmed injuries; third-most destructive wildfire in California history; associated with extremely powerful Santa Ana wind event.[15][16][17]
2025 California wildfires – Evacuations forced; destroyed 9,418 structures and damaged 1,073 in Altadena and Pasadena, making it the second-most destructive fire in California history; seventeen confirmed fatalities and nine confirmed injuries, making it the fifth deadliest in state history; associated with extremely powerful Santa Ana wind event.[18][19][20]
2025 California wildfires – Burned near Castaic Lake. Evacuations forced; associated with extremely powerful Santa Ana wind event that begun on January 22.[22]
2025 Oklahoma wildfires – Destroyed at least 202 homes in Stillwater. 12 were in the emergency room for "smoke inhalation or patients on home care who needed to evacuate."[83][84][85]
Firefighters planned to treat to 13,000 acres of forest lands with firing operations. The fire had spotted outside of the lines and trapped 2 firefighters.[275]
2025 Arizona wildfires-Caused by lightning. Evacuated the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Destroyed over 80 structures, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge. Saw over nine consecutive days of critical and extreme fire behavior starting July 23, producing a fire tornado on July 27. Tenth largest wildfire in Arizona history.[299]
2025 Utah wildfires-Produced large pyrocumulonimbus clouds that fueled rapid spread. Burned over 10,000 acres in one day during a major flare-up on July 25. Destroyed 10 structures.[332]
2025 Oregon wildfires--A burn-over destroyed a Milton-Freewater Rural Fire Department engine, and one firefighter was treated and released for smoke inhalation.[333]
↑ Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out.[13]
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