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Panorama Fire

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Coordinates: 34°13′34″N 117°18′32″W / 34.226°N 117.309°W / 34.226; -117.309
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Panorama Fire
Refer to caption
A nighttime view of a firefighter silhouetted against the flames of the Panorama Fire
Date(s)
  • November 24, 1980 (1980-11-24) –
  • December 1, 1980 (1980-12-01)
  • (8 days)
LocationSan Bernardino County, California
Coordinates34°13′34″N 117°18′32″W / 34.226°N 117.309°W / 34.226; -117.309
Statistics[1]
Burned area28,800 acres (11,655 ha; 45 sq mi; 117 km2)
Impacts
Deaths4
Non-fatal injuries77
Structures destroyed325
Damage$40 million ($148 million today)
Ignition
CauseArson
Perpetrator(s)Unknown
MotiveUnknown
Map
Panorama Fire is located in southern California
Panorama Fire
Location of the Panorama Fire in Southern California

The Panorama Fire was a destructive and fatal wildfire in the U.S. state of California's San Bernardino County. The fire began on November 24, 1980, and was fully contained on December 1, 1980. The fire was set by an unknown arsonist about 10:50 a.m. near Panorama Point, a county equipment depot along California State Route 18 in the San Bernardino Mountains. The fire's growth was exacerbated by strong Santa Ana winds that reached 90 miles an hour, pushing the flames into populated areas in Waterman Canyon and the city of San Bernardino. 325 structures were destroyed, including 310 homes.

When the fire occurred, it was the fourth most destructive wildfire in recorded California history and the most destructive in the history of San Bernardino County.[2] It has since passed out of the top 20 destructive wildfires statewide, and its structure toll in San Bernardino County was surpassed in 2003 by the Old Fire.[3][4]

The fire resulted in four fatalities: Earl F. Welty, 83, and his wife, Edith, 82, who were caught in the fire; Joseph Benjamin, 54, who collapsed while watering his roof; and Rosa Myers, 64, who suffered a heart attack while being evacuated.[5]

Fire progression

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On November 24, winds were so strong that air tankers were grounded and firefighters reported being pelted by rocks the size of golf balls.[6]

By 1:00 PM on November 25, the fire had burned roughly 10,000 acres and was 10% contained. High winds, of 30 to 40 miles per hour with gusts to 60, continued to ground air tankers.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "The Panorama Fire – A Thanksgiving to remember". alpenhornews.com. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  2. ^ "20 Largest California Wildland Fires (By Structures Lost)". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. 2001. Archived from the original on 2001-10-31. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
  3. ^ "Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires" (PDF). California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. 2022-01-13. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
  4. ^ Cataldo, Nick (2020-11-23). "Remembering the perils of the Panorama fire after 40 years". The San Bernardino Sun. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  5. ^ Goulding, Joan (1980-11-26). "Firefighters took advantage of dying winds today to strengthen..." United Press International. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  6. ^ a b May, Tina (1980-11-25). "Fire claims four lives, 273 homes". The San Bernardino Sun. pp. 51, 52. Retrieved 2022-12-05 – via Newspapers.com.
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