This year has brought wildfires that have burned up a lot of the Western United States. Wildfires in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Montana and other states have burned up at least 580,000 acres. But how do these blazes compare in the history of the U.S. wildfires?

Interestingly, the current fires in Utah and Colorado Springs only rank as #22 and #21 on the list of the most extensive wildfires by acreage. It’s amazing how large some of the historic fires have been in the U.S.. Here are the top 15 wildfires in U.S. history according to the National Interagency Fire Council.

- Stay prepared with an evacuation kit for your family - 

Name:	Description:	Click Photos to Enlarge:
#10 Murphy Complex Date: May 2007 Location: Idaho Acres Burned: 652,016 Lives Lost: NA	This fire, started by lightning, ran for a few weeks and consumed hundreds of thousands of acres and cost $11 million to fight.
#9 Yellowstone Date: 1988 Location: Montana & Idaho Acres Burned: 800,000 Lives Lost: NA	Nearly 250 different fires started in the Yellowstone area in 1988. Thankfully, few large mammals were actually killed in the fire and many buildings were saved. The firefighting effort cost $240 million (2012 dollar).
#8 California Firestorm Date: Oct. 2003 Location: California Acres Burned: 800,000 Lives Lost: 24	There were over 15 fires the 2003 firestorm in southern California. Many deaths were reported as people were caught off guard in their homes. The fire only burned for a day or two but was kindled by intense winds.
#7 East Amarillo Complex Date: March 2006 Location: Texas Acres Burned: 907,245 Lives Lost: 12	This fire included dozens – if not hundreds – of wind-driven grass and brush fires. Many of the deaths were caused when thick smoke suddenly shifted across Interstate 40 causing accidents.
#6 Yacolt Date: Sept. 1902 Location: Washington & Oregon Acres Burned: 1 million Lives Lost: 38	The fire burned for 2 days and burned nearly $30 million in timber – more than $600 million in modern dollars. There weren’t many people to fight the fires during that time. In fact, the Mount Rainier Forest Reserve only employed one ranger. The fire was finally extinguished by rainfall.
#5 Cloquet-Moose Lake Date: Oct 1918 Location: Minnesota Acres Burned: 1.2 million Lives Lost: 453	This fire was caused when sparks from a train ignited local dry brush. In all, 453 people lost their lives while 52,000 people were injured or displaced. Hundreds of deaths were reported when people sought shelter in basements and cellars.
#4 Great Fire Date: 1845 Location: Oregon Acres Burned: 1.5 million Lives Lost: NA	There aren’t many accounts of this fire nor many reports. One account by settler Peter Belleque, notes that while he was escaping the fire with Indians that they would find patches and piles of “elk and deer burned to a crisp; bears found nearly barbecued;” and panthers with “ghastly cooked heads.”	Not Available
#3 Great Idaho Date: Aug. 1910 Location: Idaho & Montana Acres Burned: 2.2 million Lives Lost: 87	The majority of the 87 deaths connected to this wildfire were from crews of firefighters. In fact dozens of fireman died when they were caught in mines and firewalls during this 2-day fire.
#2 Thumb Fire Date: Sept. 1881 Location: Michigan Acres Burned: 2.5 million Lives Lost: 169	This fire was caused by extreme drought, heat and hurricane-force winds in the area. Coincidentally, this was the first disaster that the American Red Cross responded to. They provided money, clothes and other household items. Over 14,000 people were forced to use public aid.
#1 Peshtigo Date: Oct. 1871 Location: Wisconsin & Michigan Acres Burned: 3.78 million Lives Lost: Between 1,200 – 2,500	The largest wildfire in U.S. history is largely forgotten but occurred on the same day as the Great Chicago Fire. Officials still do not have an accurate idea of the death toll because so many people perished that there weren’t enough people to take count. The fire was so intense that temperatures reached 2,000 degrees – forming a fire tornado – lifting homes and trains with fire and throwing them across the land. It’s thought that the fires were created by a comet.