If you’re asking when did the wildfire start in California, you’re probably looking for a single date. A "day one." But here’s the thing—California doesn't really have a single start date anymore. It has a cycle.
The 2024 fire season, which many are still reeling from, hit its first major stride in early summer, specifically with the Post Fire in Los Angeles County on June 15, 2024. But that was just the beginning. By July, the state was facing the Park Fire, which became one of the largest in California's recorded history. It started on July 24, 2024, allegedly sparked by a man pushing a burning car into a gully in Upper Bidwell Park.
It’s heavy stuff.
Understanding the Timeline: When Did the Wildfire Start in California This Year?
For the current 2025 cycle, things kicked off even earlier than some expected. While winter rains usually provide a buffer, the transition from a wet winter to a blistering spring meant that by May 2024, the grass was already turning into gold-colored tinder.
If we look at the official record from CAL FIRE, the "season" is technically year-round now. However, the period of significant activity—the stuff that makes national headlines—usually revs up in late June.
The Park Fire is the perfect example of how quickly things go south. One minute it’s a small brush fire near Chico; a few days later, it’s consumed over 400,000 acres. It wasn't just about the date it started. It was about the fact that the fuel moisture levels were at historic lows.
Why the Start Date Is Moving Earlier
Climate scientists from UCLA and UC Berkeley have been screaming into the void about this for years. They point to "vapor pressure deficit." Basically, the air is getting thirstier. It sucks the moisture out of the plants faster than it used to.
So, when did the wildfire start in California in terms of the "new normal"? Usually, we see the first 1,000-plus acre fires in May.
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Historically, we used to wait for the Santa Ana or Diablo winds in October for the "real" danger. Not anymore. Now, we get "lightning sieges" in August and human-caused ignitions in the heat of July.
The 2024 Mega-Fires: A Breakdown of Key Start Dates
To understand the scale, you have to look at the individual monsters.
The Post Fire (June 15, 2024): This was the first "big" one of the year near Gorman. It burned about 15,000 acres. It felt like a warning shot.
The Thompson Fire (July 2, 2024): This hit Oroville hard. It forced thousands to evacuate right before the Fourth of July.
The Park Fire (July 24, 2024): This is the one people will talk about for decades. It moved with a speed that baffled even veteran fire captains. It eventually burned through Butte, Tehama, Shasta, and Plumas counties.
The Bridge Fire and Line Fire (September 2024): These choked Southern California with smoke for weeks. The Line Fire started on September 5, 2024, in San Bernardino County and was later determined to be arson.
Honestly, the sheer number of starts is exhausting. CAL FIRE reported thousands of individual ignitions between June and September alone. Most are caught quickly. Some aren't.
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The Role of "Carryover" Growth
We had a few wet years recently. You’d think that’s good, right?
Kinda.
Rain makes grass grow. When that grass dies in the 110-degree Central Valley heat, it becomes "fine fuel." It’s basically gasoline in plant form. When people ask when the fire started, they often forget that the "start" was actually the rainfall six months prior that grew the fuel.
The Human Cost and the "Why" Behind the Start
Most people assume it’s always lightning. It’s not.
In California, over 90% of wildfires are started by humans. Power lines, dragging trailer chains, lawnmowers hitting a rock, or—as seen in the Park Fire—intentional acts.
When you look at the data from the Western Fire Chiefs Association, you see a trend. The ignitions are happening in the "Wildland-Urban Interface" (WUI). This is where houses meet the brush. It’s why a fire that starts at 2:00 PM on a Tuesday can destroy 100 homes by dinner time.
Predicting the 2025 and 2026 Starts
Predicting exactly when did the wildfire start in California for future seasons involves looking at the snowpack.
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As of early 2025, the Sierra Nevada snowpack is sitting at about 85% of normal. That’s okay, but not great. It means the "start" of the high-risk season will likely be mid-June again. If we get a "Miracle March" of rain, we might push it to July. If not? We’re looking at a long, smoky summer.
Misconceptions About the "Start" of Fire Season
There’s this myth that fire season ends when the first rain hits in November.
Tell that to the victims of the Thomas Fire (December 2017) or the Marshall Fire (granted, that was Colorado, but the logic holds). In Southern California, the wind doesn't care if it's December. If the Santa Anas are blowing and the ground is dry, a fire can start on Christmas Day.
We have to stop thinking about it as a season and start thinking about it as a state of being.
What You Should Do Instead of Just Tracking Dates
Tracking when a fire starts is reactive. You want to be proactive.
Expert advice from groups like the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) suggests that your "start" date for preparation should be March.
- Defensible Space: You need 100 feet of cleared area.
- Home Hardening: Ember-resistant vents are the single best investment you can make. Most houses don't burn from a wall of flame; they burn because a tiny ember flew into an attic vent.
- The "Go Bag": If you're waiting for the smoke to appear to pack your bag, you're already too late.
Actionable Steps for the Current Season
Don't just wonder when the next one will start. Prepare for the inevitable.
Immediate To-Do List:
- Sign up for Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): Make sure your phone is set to receive these. They save lives.
- Clean your gutters: Do it now. Dry leaves in a gutter are a death sentence for a house during an ember shower.
- Check your insurance: Many Californians are being dropped by major carriers like State Farm or Allstate. Check your policy status today. If you're dropped, look into the California FAIR Plan, though it's expensive and a last resort.
- Download the Watch Duty App: Seriously. It’s run by volunteers and often outperforms official channels for real-time maps and updates.
The question of when did the wildfire start in California is less about a calendar date and more about the convergence of heat, wind, and human error. Stay vigilant, stay informed, and don't assume that because it's raining today, the fire risk is gone tomorrow.