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California Fire Siege
Fire Events and Policy

Fire Events and Policy

Years 1923–2006
California has a long history of catastrophic Wildland Urban Interface fires. The following timeline discusses some
of those fires and highlights key policies.

1923
Berkeley Fire destroyed 584 structures. Embers falling on wood shingles
accelerated the spread of the fire.

1932
The Economy Act was passed by the U.S. Congress, enabling use of military
resources in peacetime events. The intent of Congress was to encourage civilian
employment prior to committing military resources.

1933
The Griffith Park Fire in Los Angeles started on October 3, 1933. This 47-acre
fire killed 29 firefighters and injured 150 others.

1943
The Hansen Creek Fire started on October 2, 1943 on the Cleveland National
Forest. Ten marines and one army firefighter are killed. Seventy-three other
military personnel are injured on this 13,145-acre fire.

1946
The California State Board of Forestry declared the San Bernardino Mountains
around Crestline and Lake Arrowhead as a “Zone of Infestation” for forest
insects.

1947
Helicopters are used to assist during wildland fires for the first time in Southern
California and the usefulness for moving firefighters around the fire was
quickly recognized.

1950
The State of California, all 58 counties and nearly all city governments signed a
“Master Mutual Aid Agreement.”

1960
California Public Resource Code 4291 was adopted. This code requires a
minimum of 30 feet clearance of flammable vegetation around structures in
State Responsibility Areas.

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