Military

California’s Dixie Fire Exceeds 500K Acres, Becomes Largest Single Fire in State History

August 12, 2021Joshua Skovlund
dixie fire

A firefighter blasting the flames of the Dixie Fire on Aug. 10, 2021. Photos courtesy of Cal Fire/Flickr. Composite image by Joshua Skovlund/Coffee or Die Magazine.

California’s largest single fire in state history surpassed 500,000 acres Wednesday, Aug. 11. The Dixie Fire has forced more than 30,000 residents to flee the area and has drawn thousands of firefighting personnel from local, state, and federal agencies to battle the quickly spreading flames, despite the injury of four firefighters last week.


“We’re all tired, all the resources here have been here for a long, long time,” California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection public information officer Edwin Zuniga told Coffee or Die Magazine. “I’ve been here since the very start, but we’ve had two days in a row where containment has gone up. So that’s good news … our firefighters know that their work is finally paying off. And it’s going to continue to pay off.”


The Dixie Fire started July 13 in Northern California. Fueled by strong winds and extremely dry vegetation, it is now the biggest single fire in state history, scorching an area more than twice as big as the city of Dallas, Texas. The only larger fire was the August Complex in 2020, in which 38 separate blazes sparked by lightning strikes burned more than 1 million acres.


More than 1,000 buildings have been destroyed, and dozens more have been damaged, Zuniga said. Protecting the community — both life and property — is foremost in firefighters’ minds. 




“Every morning, we brief our firefighters, and we push one message … that we want to make sure that no more structures are destroyed or damaged, or no more communities continue to be threatened by this fire,” Zuniga said. “Our purpose here is to protect the people in these communities being affected, protect their homes, protect the communities, protect their resources and everything else that they have.”


Thousands of firefighters are hard at work trying to contain the Dixie Fire. Cal Fire has assigned 6,000 “personnel” — defined by the agency as firetrucks, water tanks, helicopters, hand crews, and other resources — to fight the fire. Each fire engine typically has three to four firefighters and each hand crew can have up to 17 people, Zuniga explained.


The Dixie Fire hasn’t claimed any lives, but four firefighters from a hand crew were injured last weekend when a large branch fell on top of them. All four were transported to the closest hospital, with three being discharged within 24 hours. One remains hospitalized, but Zuniga did not provide further information about the actual injuries.  


Pacific Gas & Electric said its equipment might have contributed to the ignition of both the Dixie Fire and the much smaller Fly Fire, according to reports from The Washington Post. Cal Fire lists the cause of the Dixie Fire as still under investigation. 




A serial arsonist has ignited additional concerns for firefighters along the borders of the Dixie Fire. 


Former college professor Gary Maynard has been accused of an arson spree in July and August, attempting to trap firefighters with his fires, according to court documents NPR obtained. Court documents allege Maynard entered the evacuation zone and set fires behind the crews fighting the Dixie Fire. A US Forest Service agent allegedly found Maynard with his vehicle stuck near a wildfire that had just started. He took photos of Maynard, his car, and his tire-tread pattern, which investigators say ties Maynard to multiple wildfires in the area.


Maynard is in custody, with authorities arguing against the possibility of bail, NPR reported. 


Zuniga said crews wouldn’t stop until the Dixie Fire is extinguished and the evacuated communities can start the rebuilding process. 


“We want to make sure that we can bring them back home as fast as possible,” Zuniga said. “So we’re going to continue to work hard, around the clock, to make sure that happens.”


Read Next: How You Can Become a California Wildfire Warrior



Joshua Skovlund
Joshua Skovlund

Joshua Skovlund is a former staff writer for Coffee or Die. He covered the 75th anniversary of D-Day in France, multinational military exercises in Germany, and civil unrest during the 2020 riots in Minneapolis. Born and raised in small-town South Dakota, he grew up playing football and soccer before serving as a forward observer in the US Army. After leaving the service, he worked as a personal trainer while earning his paramedic license. After five years as in paramedicine, he transitioned to a career in multimedia journalism. Joshua is married with two children.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
Coffee Or Die Photo
Get Your Viking On: The Exclusive 30 Sec Out BRCC Shirt Club Design

Thirty Seconds Out has partnered with BRCC for an exclusive shirt design invoking the God of Winter.

Grizzly Forge BRCC shirt
Limited Edition: Grizzly Forge Blades on an Awesome BRCC Shirt

Lucas O'Hara of Grizzly Forge has teamed up with BRCC for a badass, exclusive Shirt Club T-shirt design featuring his most popular knife and tiomahawk.

BRCC Limited Edition Josh Raulerson Blackbeard Skull Shirt
From Naval Service to Creative Canvas: BRCC Veteran Artist Josh Raulerson

Coffee or Die sits down with one of the graphic designers behind Black Rifle Coffee's signature look and vibe.

Medal of Honor is held up.
Biden Will Award Medal of Honor to Army Helicopter Pilot Who Rescued Soldiers in Vietnam Firefight

Biden will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot who risked his life to save a reconnaissance team from almost certain death.

dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

Ouija Board aircraft carrier
Low-Tech ‘Ouija Boards’ Have Helped Aircraft Carriers Operate for Decades

Since the 1920s, a low-tech tabletop replica of an aircraft carrier’s flight deck has been an essential tool in coordinating air operations.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2024 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved