Historical eventAugust 162020

August Complex fire

The August Complex fire in California burns more than one million acres of land.

Everything on August 16Original source

In context

When
Sunday, August 16 20206 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
21st century · 2020s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 2020.

What came beforeAI-assisted

California experienced severe drought conditions and record heat throughout 2020, creating ideal conditions for rapid fire spread. The state had already battled multiple large fires earlier in the summer before the August Complex ignited.

Catalyst / how it startedAI-assisted

The August Complex began as multiple fires ignited by lightning strikes in the North Fork area of the Mendocino National Forest on August 16, 2020. These separate fires merged into a single massive complex fire.

Who was involvedAI-assisted

Cal Fire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) coordinated firefighting efforts involving thousands of firefighters, engines, and aircraft. Local, state, and federal agencies worked together to combat the blaze across multiple counties.

TimelineAI-assisted

August 16, 2020: Lightning-caused fires ignite in Mendocino National Forest. August–September 2020: The complex expands rapidly, merging multiple fire perimeters into one massive fire.

October 25, 2020: The August Complex becomes fully contained after burning 1,032,648 acres, making it California's largest fire on record at that time.

What happened

The August Complex fire in California burns more than one million acres of land.

August 16 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1991Indian Airlines Flight 257
  2. 2005West Caribbean Airways Flight 708
  3. 2008Trump International Hotel and Tower (Chicago)
  4. 20092009 World Championships in Athletics
  5. 2010AIRES Flight 8250
  6. 2012South African Police Service
  7. 2013MV St. Thomas Aquinas
  8. 2015Trigana Air Flight 267
  9. 2015Douma massacre (2015)
  10. 2015Assassination of Shuja Khanzada
  11. 2020August Complex fire

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Everything we record for 2020 →

Sources

Cite this page

“August Complex fire”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/august-complex-fire-2020-august-16, accessed October 27, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did August Complex fire happen?

August 16 2020 — 6 years ago, on a Sunday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints. Panels marked AI-assisted were filled where the sources left a heading empty.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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