Updated Aug 9, 2021 - Science

Dixie Fire now 2nd largest wildfire in California history

Ivana Saric

The Dixie Fire swallows a home and car — A home is engulfed in flames as the Dixie fire rages on in Greenville, California, on Aug. 5. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

Authorities continued to search into the night for four people missing in California's historic Dixie Fire, as wildfires raged across the West.

Driving the news: Those unaccounted for were all from the fire-devastated town of Greenville, per a statement from the Plumas County Sheriff's office Sunday. The Dixie Fire is the largest blaze burning in the U.S. and the second-biggest wildfire in the state's history, a Cal Fire spokesperson told Axios.

State of play: The Dixie Fire, which erupted in mid-July, was burning across 489,287 acres and was 21% contained as of Sunday evening, per Cal Fire.

It has destroyed 627 buildings and damaged 42 other structures.
Evacuation orders have been issued to dozens of communities across Plumas, Butte, Lassen, and Tehama counties.

The big picture: The U.S. West is in the grip of a severe drought exacerbated by human-caused climate change that has proven to be the worst to hit the region so far this century.

Studies show human-caused climate change is driving an increase in the likelihood and severity of heat waves, droughts and wildfires.
Six of the seven largest fires in California's history have occurred since August 2020, according to CalFire.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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Dixie Fire now 2nd largest wildfire in California history

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