Palisades Fire in California dwarfs the Great Chicago Fire in size

As California battles the massive Palisades Fire, its sheer size puts the historic Great Chicago Fire of 1871 into perspective.

The Palisades Fire has burned nearly 16,000 acres—equivalent to 25 square miles—compared to the Chicago Fire’s 2,124 acres, or just 3.3 square miles.

While the Great Chicago Fire is remembered for its devastating impact, the scale of the Palisades Fire highlights the enormity of modern wildfires. Spanning an area over seven times larger, the Palisades blaze underscores the challenges faced by firefighters in Southern California.

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The Palisades Fire is one of several blazes ravaging the region, including the Eaton, Hurst, and Woodley fires. Combined, these wildfires have scorched nearly 30,000 acres, forced over 100,000 residents to evacuate, and left widespread devastation in their wake.

Fanned by extreme winds exceeding 100 mph and fueled by dry conditions, the fires have proven difficult to contain. The National Weather Service described the windstorm as "life-threatening." Five people have been killed in the outbreak.

In response, Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, and President Joe Biden has authorized federal disaster aid to assist in firefighting efforts. Crews are working tirelessly to protect lives and property as flames continue to spread.

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