Most destructive California wildfires in history

As Ventura County continues to be devastated by wildfires spread by Santa Ana winds, the Thomas fire has become one of the most destructive in California history.

At least 1,063 structures have been damaged and 272,200 acres have been burned by the blaze that has spread into Santa Barbara County. The fire is one of many that have burned at historic levels in 2017.

The North Bay fires caused unprecedented damage in October, with the Nuns fire as the sixth most destructive in history and the Tubbs fire as the most destructive ever. The Nuns fire damaged 1,355 structures and led to one fatality. The Tubbs fire damaged 5,643 structures and caused 22 deaths.

Here are the most destructive fires in California history based on number of structure damaged:

1. TUBBS FIRE - (Sonoma County), October 2017
Structures damaged: 5,643
Acres burned: 36,807
Deaths: 22

2. TUNNEL FIRE - Oakland Hills (Alameda County), October 1991
Structures damaged: 2,900
Acres burned: 1,600
Deaths: 25

3. CEDAR FIRE (San Diego County), October 2003
Structures damaged: 2,820
Acres burned: 273,246
Deaths: 15

4. VALLEY FIRE (Lake, Napa & Sonoma County), September 2015

Structures damaged: 1,955
Acres burned: 76,067
Deaths: 4

5. WITCH FIRE (San Diego County) October 2007
Structures damaged: 1,650
Acres burned: 197,990
Deaths: 2

6. NUNS FIRE (Sonoma County) October 2017
Structures damaged: 1,355
Acres burned: 54,382
Deaths: 1

7. THOMAS FIRE (Ventura County), December 2017
Structures damaged: At least 1063

Acres burned: At least 272,200
Deaths: 1

8. OLD FIRE (San Bernardino County), October 2003
Structures damaged: 1,003
Acres burned: 91,281
Deaths: 6

9. JONES FIRE (Shasta County), October 1999
Structures damaged: 954
Acres burned: 26,200
Deaths: 1

10. BUTTE FIRE (Amador & Calaveras County), September 2015
Structures damaged: 921
Acres burned: 70,868
Deaths: 2