What caused other recent fires
The causes of California wildfires are numerous and include vehicle sparks, runaway debris burns, runaway campfires, arson attacks, compromised power lines, lawn mowers rolling over dry grass, fireworks, target shooting and lightning.
The sources behind this year’s disastrous fires in Wine Country and beyond are not yet known. But here is a look at the causes of some of the most destructive wildfires in the past 30 years, according to state and federal data:
cLAYTON FIRE (2016)
Area burned: 3,929 acres off Highway 29 and Clayton Creek in Lake County. Damage: 300 structures destroyed. Cause: Damin Pashilk, 41, of Clearlake was charged with several counts of arson in the Clayton Fire and other smaller blazes. He remains in jail in lieu of $5 million bond.
ERSKINE FIRE (2016)
Area burned: 48,019 acres in the Lake Isabella area of Kern County. Damage: Two deaths, 386 structures. Cause: A private power line at an archery facility came into contact with a tree. The facility was on federal Bureau of Land Management grounds that had been leased to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which had in turn leased the land to the archery range. Hundreds of claims for property losses have been filed against the state. Litigation is pending.
SObERANES FIRE (2016)
Area burned: 132,127 acres in Monterey County.
Damage: One death, 68 structures.
Cause: An abandoned illegal campfire took off about 2 miles east of Highway 1 along Soberanes Creek in an isolated area of Garrapata State Park. No arrests have been made.
BUTTE FIRE (2015)
Area burned: 70,868 acres east of Jackson in Amador and Calaveras counties.
Damage: Two deaths, 921 structures.
Cause: A pine tree hit a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. power line, the state found. California officials demanded more than $90 million from PG&E for firefighting costs. Litigation is continuing.
VALLEY FIRE (2015)
Area burned: 76,067 acres in Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties.
Damage: Four deaths, 1,955 structures.
Cause: A faulty residential electrical connection installed to power a hot tub ignited surrounding dry grass. The homeowner admitted to installing the wiring, which state officials said was not up to code. He has not been charged.
ROUGH FIRE (2015)
Area burned: 151,623 acres in Fresno County. Damage: Four structures. Cause: Lightning.
RIM FIRE (2013)
Area burned: 257,314 acres in and around Yosemite National Park.
Damage: 112 structures. Cause: An illegal campfire in the Stanislaus National Forest allegedly burned out of control. Bowhunter Keith Matthew Emerald was accused of two felonies and two misdemeanors, but federal prosecutors dropped the charges, citing the deaths of two key witnesses.
MORGAN FIRE (2013)
Area burned: 3,111 acres on Mount Diablo.
Damage: No structures burned.
Cause: A target shooter on private land caused sparks when he fired his rifle. The ignition was deemed accidental, and the shooter was not charged.
STATION FIRE (2009)
Area burned: 160,557 acres north of Los Angeles.
Damage: Two firefighters killed, 209 structures.
Cause: Arson. No arrests.
LOCKHEED FIRE (2009)
Area burned: 7,817 acres near Bonny Doon (Santa Cruz County).
Damage: 13 structures.
Cause: Campfire burned out of control. No arrests.
KLAMATH THEATER COMPLEX (2008)
Area burned: 192,038 acres in Siskiyou County.
Damage: Two deaths, no structures. Cause: Lightning.
ZACA FIRE (2007)
Area burned: 240,207 acres in Santa Barbara County.
Damage: One structure.
Cause: Grinding equipment being used to repair a metal pipe caused sparks. The corporate owners of La Laguna Ranch, without admitting guilt, agreed to a $17 million settlement to help offset firefighting costs.
WITCH CREEK FIRE (2007)
Area burned: 197,990 acres in northern San Diego County.
Damage: Two deaths, 1,650 structures.
Cause: Sparks from a San Diego Gas & Electric power line. The utility reportedly paid out about $2 billion in damages related to that and other fires in 2007.