Firefighters look out over a burning hillside as they fight the Blue Ridge Fire in Yorba Linda, California, on Monday, October 26, 2020.
In photos: 2020 wildfires on the West Coast
Firefighters look out over a burning hillside as they fight the Blue Ridge Fire in Yorba Linda, California, on Monday, October 26, 2020.
Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Updated 1637 GMT (0037 HKT) January 26, 2023

Wildfires ravaged the West in 2020, especially in California, where fires burned twice the state's previous acreage record.

Upward of 8,600 fires burned more than 4 million acres in California, according to Cal Fire, as dry, windy conditions and record-breaking high temperatures fueled flames for weeks.

Across the West, more than 10 million acres burned, with Oregon and Washington experiencing particularly intense wildfires. Dozens of people died in fires in 2020, and Stanford researchers estimated 1,200 to 3,000 more people died in California from smoke inhalation-related illness.

Editor's note: This gallery contains graphic images. Viewer discretion is advised.

A man evacuates his home as flames from the Blue Ridge Fire approach in Chino Hills, California, on Tuesday, October 27, 2020.
A man evacuates his home as flames from the Blue Ridge Fire approach in Chino Hills, California, on Tuesday, October 27, 2020.
David McNew/Getty Images
Firefighters conduct a backfire operation in Chino Hills on October 27, 2020.
Firefighters conduct a backfire operation in Chino Hills on October 27, 2020.
Myung J Chun/Los Angeles Times/Shutterstock
A firefighter uses a hose as the Silverado Fire approaches near Irvine, California.
A firefighter uses a hose as the Silverado Fire approaches near Irvine, California.
Mike Blake/Reuters
Firefighter Raymond Vasquez battles the Silverado Fire in Irvine on Monday, October 26, 2020.
Firefighter Raymond Vasquez battles the Silverado Fire in Irvine on Monday, October 26, 2020.
Jae C. Hong/AP
Flames rise from mountain ridges near a farmstead as a wildfire burns near Granby, Colorado, on Thursday, October 22, 2020.
Flames rise from mountain ridges near a farmstead as a wildfire burns near Granby, Colorado, on Thursday, October 22, 2020.
David Zalubowski/AP
Evacuees drive through a traffic jam exiting Big Thompson Canyon as the East Troublesome Fire forced residents out of Estes Park, Colorado, on October 22, 2020.
Evacuees drive through a traffic jam exiting Big Thompson Canyon as the East Troublesome Fire forced residents out of Estes Park, Colorado, on October 22, 2020.
Bethany Baker/USA Today Network/Reuters
Structures burned by the Cal-Wood Fire are seen in Boulder County, Colorado, on October 18, 2020.
Structures burned by the Cal-Wood Fire are seen in Boulder County, Colorado, on October 18, 2020.
Matthew Jonas/MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera/Getty Images
Flames from the Cameron Peak Fire, the largest wildfire in Colorado history, work their way along a ridge outside Estes Park on October 16, 2020.
Flames from the Cameron Peak Fire, the largest wildfire in Colorado history, work their way along a ridge outside Estes Park on October 16, 2020.
Bethany Baker/The Coloradoan/USA Today Network
An airplane drops fire retardant on the Bruder Fire in Redlands, California, on October 15, 2020.
An airplane drops fire retardant on the Bruder Fire in Redlands, California, on October 15, 2020.
Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times/Shutterstock
Dr. Alex Herman, right, and veterinary technician Linden West examine <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2020/10/01/us/mountain-lion-cub-rescued-california-zogg-fire/index.html" target="_blank">Captain Cal,</a> a 6-week-old mountain lion cub recovering from severe burn injuries at the Oakland Zoo Hospital in Oakland, California. The zoo later took in <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2020/10/11/us/oakland-zoo-mountain-lion-rescued-from-wildfire-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">two more cubs rescued</a> from the same fire.
Dr. Alex Herman, right, and veterinary technician Linden West examine Captain Cal, a 6-week-old mountain lion cub recovering from severe burn injuries at the Oakland Zoo Hospital in Oakland, California. The zoo later took in two more cubs rescued from the same fire.
Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images
Burned bottles of wine sit in a pile at the Castello di Amorosa winery, which was destroyed by the Glass Fire in Calistoga, California, on October 1, 2020. Wildfires have damaged and <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/11/us/california-wildfires-wineries/index.html" target="_blank">destroyed dozens of the region's famed wineries,</a> many of them family-owned businesses.
Burned bottles of wine sit in a pile at the Castello di Amorosa winery, which was destroyed by the Glass Fire in Calistoga, California, on October 1, 2020. Wildfires have damaged and destroyed dozens of the region's famed wineries, many of them family-owned businesses.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
A firefighter walks along a path as the Glass Fire burns in Calistoga, California, on October 1, 2020.
A firefighter walks along a path as the Glass Fire burns in Calistoga, California, on October 1, 2020.
Noah Berger/AP
Vehicles burned in the Glass Fire sit outside of a home that survived in Calistoga on September 30, 2020.
Vehicles burned in the Glass Fire sit outside of a home that survived in Calistoga on September 30, 2020.
Samuel Corum/AFP/Getty Images
The remains of guest houses smolder at Calistoga Ranch after the Glass Fire passed through on September 30, 2020.
The remains of guest houses smolder at Calistoga Ranch after the Glass Fire passed through on September 30, 2020.
Samuel Corum/AFP/Getty Images
Firefighter Abraham Garcia signals a water truck in Angwin, California, on September 29, 2020.
Firefighter Abraham Garcia signals a water truck in Angwin, California, on September 29, 2020.
Paul Kuroda/Sipa USA
Firefighters watch the Glass Fire slowly creep across a clearing near Calistoga on September 29, 2020.
Firefighters watch the Glass Fire slowly creep across a clearing near Calistoga on September 29, 2020.
Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/Shutterstock
Damaged wine barrels sit stacked at the Fairwinds Estate Winery in Calistoga on September 29, 2020.
Damaged wine barrels sit stacked at the Fairwinds Estate Winery in Calistoga on September 29, 2020.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The Glass Fire burns in the background as Josh Asbury, an employee of CableCom, installs fiber-optic cable in Calistoga on September 28, 2020.
The Glass Fire burns in the background as Josh Asbury, an employee of CableCom, installs fiber-optic cable in Calistoga on September 28, 2020.
Adrees Latif/Reuters
Residents of the Oakmont Gardens senior home are transported to safety as the Shady Fire approaches in Santa Rosa on September 28, 2020.
Residents of the Oakmont Gardens senior home are transported to safety as the Shady Fire approaches in Santa Rosa on September 28, 2020.
Noah Berger/AP
Cellar worker Jose Juan Perez extinguishes hotspots at Castello di Amorosa, a Calistoga winery that was damaged in the 2020 Glass Fire.
Cellar worker Jose Juan Perez extinguishes hotspots at Castello di Amorosa, a Calistoga winery that was damaged in the 2020 Glass Fire.
Noah Berger/AP
An officer with Napa County Animal Control rescues a cat after the Glass Fire passed through Napa Valley, California, on September 28, 2020.
An officer with Napa County Animal Control rescues a cat after the Glass Fire passed through Napa Valley, California, on September 28, 2020.
Samuel Corum/AFP/Getty Images
The Glass Fire burns on a Napa County mountainside on September 28, 2020.
The Glass Fire burns on a Napa County mountainside on September 28, 2020.
Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
Flames from the Glass Fire consume the Black Rock Inn in St. Helena, California, on September 27, 2020.
Flames from the Glass Fire consume the Black Rock Inn in St. Helena, California, on September 27, 2020.
Noah Berger/AP
Embers fly from a tree as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena on September 27, 2020.
Embers fly from a tree as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena on September 27, 2020.
Noah Berger/AP
An air tanker drops fire retardant on the Glass Fire, which was burning near the Davis Estates winery in Calistoga on September 27, 2020.
An air tanker drops fire retardant on the Glass Fire, which was burning near the Davis Estates winery in Calistoga on September 27, 2020.
Noah Berger/AP
Cal Fire Capt. Jesse Campbell works to save the Louis Stralla Water Treatment Plant as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena.
Cal Fire Capt. Jesse Campbell works to save the Louis Stralla Water Treatment Plant as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena.
Noah Berger/AP
A photograph of Charles Morton, a firefighter killed battling the El Dorado Fire, is displayed at a memorial service in San Bernardino, California, on September 25, 2020. Morton, 39, was a 14-year veteran of the US Forest Service and a squad boss with the Big Bear Hotshot Crew of the San Bernardino National Forest.
A photograph of Charles Morton, a firefighter killed battling the El Dorado Fire, is displayed at a memorial service in San Bernardino, California, on September 25, 2020. Morton, 39, was a 14-year veteran of the US Forest Service and a squad boss with the Big Bear Hotshot Crew of the San Bernardino National Forest.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
An inmate firefighter takes a break while working to contain the Bear Fire in Oroville, California, on September 24, 2020.
An inmate firefighter takes a break while working to contain the Bear Fire in Oroville, California, on September 24, 2020.
Go Nakamura/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Inmate firefighters extinguish hot spots while working to contain the Bear Fire on September 24, 2020.
Inmate firefighters extinguish hot spots while working to contain the Bear Fire on September 24, 2020.
Go Nakamura/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Bobcat Fire burns near Cedar Springs, California, on September 21, 2020.
The Bobcat Fire burns near Cedar Springs, California, on September 21, 2020.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
Wildfire smoke rises in Medicine Bow National Forest in southeastern Wyoming on September 21, 2020.
Wildfire smoke rises in Medicine Bow National Forest in southeastern Wyoming on September 21, 2020.
Jerod Delay/AP
A deer looks for food in an area burned by the Bobcat Fire in Pearblossom, California, on September 20, 2020.
A deer looks for food in an area burned by the Bobcat Fire in Pearblossom, California, on September 20, 2020.
Kyle Grillot/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
A woman takes photos as the Bobcat Fire burns in Juniper Hills, California, on September 18, 2020.
A woman takes photos as the Bobcat Fire burns in Juniper Hills, California, on September 18, 2020.
Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
Wind whips embers from Joshua trees burned by the Bobcat Fire in Juniper Hills on September 18, 2020.
Wind whips embers from Joshua trees burned by the Bobcat Fire in Juniper Hills on September 18, 2020.
Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
Firefighter Kirk McDusky walks past smoke rising from the Brattain Fire in Paisley, Oregon, on September 18, 2020.
Firefighter Kirk McDusky walks past smoke rising from the Brattain Fire in Paisley, Oregon, on September 18, 2020.
Adrees Latif/Reuters
A Juniper Hills home burns during the Bobcat Fire on September 18, 2020.
A Juniper Hills home burns during the Bobcat Fire on September 18, 2020.
Kyle Grillot/AFP/Getty Images
A firefighter battles the Bobcat Fire while defending the Mount Wilson observatory in Los Angeles on September 17, 2020.
A firefighter battles the Bobcat Fire while defending the Mount Wilson observatory in Los Angeles on September 17, 2020.
Ringo Chiu/Reuters
Stacey Kahny fixes her hair inside her tent at the evacuation center at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Central Point, Oregon, on September 16, 2020. Kahny lived with her parents at a trailer park in Phoenix, Oregon, that was destroyed by fire.
Stacey Kahny fixes her hair inside her tent at the evacuation center at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Central Point, Oregon, on September 16, 2020. Kahny lived with her parents at a trailer park in Phoenix, Oregon, that was destroyed by fire.
Paula Bronstein/AFP/Getty Images
A charred yearbook lies in the debris as Fred Skaff and his son Thomas clean up their home in Phoenix, Oregon, on September 16, 2020.
A charred yearbook lies in the debris as Fred Skaff and his son Thomas clean up their home in Phoenix, Oregon, on September 16, 2020.
Paula Bronstein/AFP/Getty Images
In this aerial photo taken with a drone, red fire retardant sits on leveled homes in Talent, Oregon, on September 15, 2020.
In this aerial photo taken with a drone, red fire retardant sits on leveled homes in Talent, Oregon, on September 15, 2020.
Noah Berger/AP
A firefighter works at the scene of the Bobcat Fire burning on hillsides near Monrovia, California, on September 15, 2020.
A firefighter works at the scene of the Bobcat Fire burning on hillsides near Monrovia, California, on September 15, 2020.
Ringo Chiu/AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump listens as California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about the wildfires during a briefing on September 14, 2020.
President Donald Trump listens as California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about the wildfires during a briefing on September 14, 2020.
Andrew Harnik/AP
George Coble walks through his destroyed property in Mill City, Oregon, on September 12, 2020.
George Coble walks through his destroyed property in Mill City, Oregon, on September 12, 2020.
John Locher/AP
The Bobcat Fire burns in Angeles National Forest, north of Monrovia, California, on September 11, 2020.
The Bobcat Fire burns in Angeles National Forest, north of Monrovia, California, on September 11, 2020.
Etienne Laurent/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock