The worst wildfire seasons in the federal record
By acres burned in large mapped fires, 2020 is the worst season since 1984, at 9.7 million acres. 2015 and 2005 follow with 9.2 and 9.1 million.
Ten largest seasons
Ten largest fire seasons, million acres
| 2020 | 9,658,098 | 471 |
| 2015 | 9,160,415 | 562 |
| 2005 | 9,082,471 | 790 |
| 2017 | 8,924,346 | 653 |
| 2007 | 8,571,674 | 914 |
| 2012 | 8,487,770 | 598 |
| 2004 | 8,174,928 | 536 |
| 2006 | 8,122,350 | 1,067 |
| 2011 | 7,763,249 | 824 |
| 2018 | 7,471,903 | 555 |
| 2021 | 7,076,496 | 426 |
| 2022 | 6,870,039 | 539 |
| 2024 | 6,539,657 | 413 |
| 2000 | 6,390,196 | 824 |
| 2002 | 6,140,517 | 534 |
| 1999 | 5,332,795 | 668 |
| 1996 | 4,934,599 | 659 |
| 1988 | 4,556,690 | 496 |
| 2009 | 4,463,737 | 508 |
| 2008 | 4,444,632 | 758 |
| 2016 | 4,281,975 | 528 |
| 2003 | 4,229,172 | 591 |
| 2019 | 4,198,854 | 390 |
| 2013 | 3,875,076 | 333 |
| 1990 | 3,102,688 | 341 |
| 2001 | 3,054,332 | 592 |
| 2014 | 2,979,884 | 314 |
| 1987 | 2,771,007 | 557 |
| 1994 | 2,727,321 | 614 |
| 1985 | 2,253,140 | 341 |
| 1991 | 2,199,255 | 462 |
| 2023 | 1,970,514 | 339 |
| 2010 | 1,959,984 | 332 |
| 1998 | 1,833,054 | 429 |
| 1989 | 1,679,153 | 380 |
| 1992 | 1,601,867 | 413 |
| 1986 | 1,561,081 | 362 |
| 1993 | 1,492,789 | 305 |
| 2026 | 1,463,069 | 20 |
| 1995 | 1,345,010 | 350 |
| 2025 | 1,177,711 | 54 |
| 1984 | 1,094,018 | 189 |
| 1997 | 836,840 | 262 |