While Colorado has faced wildfires, the destruction in LA has been far worse
Los Angeles: The wildfires in L.A. are causing a lot of damage, even though they aren’t as big as some in Colorado. CAL FIRE reports over 12,000 structures have been lost, and sadly, 24 lives have been taken due to the Pacific Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires.
To put things in perspective, these fires have burned over 60 square miles, which is actually more than the size of Fort Collins. But size isn’t everything, right? Let’s dive into how the destruction in L.A. stacks up against some of Colorado’s biggest wildfires.
For instance, the Palisades Fire has burned nearly 24,000 acres, while the Eaton Fire is at about 14,000 acres. The Hurst Fire is smaller, at just over 800 acres. These fires have devastated neighborhoods and reached into untouched areas too.
Now, if we look at Colorado’s largest wildfire, the Cameron Peak Fire from 2020, it burned almost 209,000 acres—way more than the Palisades Fire. Here’s a quick rundown of Colorado’s top wildfires: the East Troublesome Fire, Pine Gulch Fire, Hayman Fire, and Spring Creek Fire, all of which burned massive areas.
When it comes to destruction, the 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado is similar to the L.A. wildfires. It caused over $500 million in damage and destroyed more than 1,000 homes. In comparison, the L.A. fires have damaged 12,000 structures and taken 24 lives.
Other notable fires in Colorado include the Black Forest Fire and the High Park Fire, which also caused significant damage and loss of life. The South Canyon Fire remains the deadliest in Colorado history, claiming 14 firefighters’ lives.
So, while Colorado has seen its share of wildfires, the recent destruction in L.A. really highlights the severity of these events.
