California had the worst fire season in 2018

The following year, the most geographically destructive in California, was 2008: nearly 1.6 million acres burned, he said.

Neighboring Nevada, meanwhile, has seen 1 million acres burned in 2018, putting it in second place among states for areas destroyed, according to the federal report.

The report adds that "California had the highest number of structures lost in one state in 2018: 17,133 residences, 703 mixed commercial / residential structures and 5,811 minor structures." Utah was the second with 77 residences and 377 minor structures lost ".

Last year was also the deadliest year in California for fires, with more than 100 dead, said McLean of Cal Fire. The campfire in the fall, which destroyed the city of Paradise, killed 85 people, according to Cal Fire.

This fire, which destroyed nearly 19,000 structures, is at the top of two lists: the most destructive fire and the deadliest fires in the state. According to Cal Fire, the largest fire of the Mendocino complex in July, with an area of ​​459,000 acres, was the largest fire in the history of the state.

Climate scientists argue that global warming has worsened the length and frequency of California's hot summers, while introducing an increasingly volatile winter climate.

McLean said that several years of drought, followed by a rainy and energetic winter in 2016-2017 and a long dry season, have put the Golden State in jeopardy in 2018. The fire season of last year has been exacerbated by the death of 18 million trees.

"We had good rainfall, a good snow, and then the dry weather came back," he said. "We started having major fires from the beginning and they were constant, they did not give us a break."

Earlier this week, Cal Fire released a report to Governor Gavin Newsom, which includes recommendations for "high-priority fuel reduction projects" for the 2019 fire season. remove dead tests, remove vegetation and create firebreaks and "defensible spaces".