49er Fire Was Once The Third Most Destructive, Now It’s Not In Top 20

NEVADA COUNTY (CBS13) – On September 11, 1988 the 49er Fire started in Nevada County and quickly became the third most destructive fire in state history; now, it’s not even in the top 20.
The fire started at approximately 9:05 am and ultimately burned 33,700 acres, for a total of 53 square miles. An estimated 4,000-4,500 homes were within the fire perimeter.312 Total Structures
148 Homes
89 VehiclesMany of the homes destroyed (80%) did not have adequate defensible space.
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