Updated Aug 9, 2018 - Energy & Environment

The scale of California's largest-ever wildfire

The Mendocino Complex fire is officially the largest wildfire on record in California, with more than 300,000 acres burned as of Wednesday night. It's made up of two separate fires burning in close proximity, and it has already eclipsed last year's record-setting Thomas Fire, which torched about 281,000 acres.

Here's how the destruction compares to the size of Washington, D.C. and Manhattan. The fire is 47 percent contained, and will likely keep burning through at least September.

Data: GeoMAC; Map: Lazaro Gamio/Axios
Data: GeoMAC; Map: Lazaro Gamio/Axios
Go deeper