How does the Palisades Fire compare to the most destructive wildfires in California history?

(KRON) — Multiple wildfires erupted this week in Southern California, ravaging parts of Los Angeles County. The most destructive of the bunch, the Palisades Fire, had burned an estimated 1,000 structures as of Wednesday afternoon.

While that number is just an estimate, it would put the fire among the 20 most destructive in California history, according to Cal Fire. And the Palisades fire can still do more damage — it was not contained as of Wednesday.

Here’s Cal Fire’s list of the most destructive wildfires in state history:

Cal Fire defines structures as homes, outbuildings and commercial properties. The Palisades Fire has destroyed homes, businesses, schools, historical sites and more.

In terms of the largest wildfires in California history, the Palisades Fire does not rank very high. It torched 15,832 acres as of Wednesday. While that is certainly large, 17 California fires have burned more than 200,000 acres. The August Complex Fire is the only fire that grew past 1 million acres in size.

What makes the Palisades Fire so devastating is that it is in the heavily populated Pacific Palisades area. Many of California’s largest wildfires were in more rural areas.

Several other fires are burning alongside the Palisades Fire in Southern California, compounding the damage. The Eaton Fire in Pasadena has killed at least five people, and another fire in the Hollywood Hills broke out on Wednesday.

​(KRON) — Multiple wildfires erupted this week in Southern California, ravaging parts of Los Angeles County. The most destructive of the bunch, the Palisades Fire, had burned an estimated 1,000 structures as of Wednesday afternoon. While that number is just an estimate, it would put the fire among the 20 most destructive in California history, […]