The Cedar Fire was a massive, highly-destructive wildfire, which burned 273,246 acres (1,106 km2) of land in San Diego County, California, during October and November 2003. The fire's rapid growth was driven by the Santa Ana wind, causing the fire to spread at a rate of 3,600 acres (15 km2) per hour. By the time the fire was fully contained on November 4, it had destroyed 2,820 buildings and killed 15 people, including one firefighter. Hotspots continued to burn within the Cedar Fire's perimeter until December 5, 2003, when the fire was fully brought under control.
A dozen simultaneous wildfires in October 2003; the Cedar Fire is the group of large red dots right of center.
Smoke from the fires drifts toward Arizona and Nevada, after the wind shifted on October 29
View of the Cedar Fire from southbound Interstate 5 near Pacific Beach, on the first morning of the fire
Drivers scramble up the embankment to escape from Interstate 15, as the Cedar Fire crosses the freeway
San Diego County, California
San Diego County, officially the County of San Diego, is a county in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,298,634, making it California's second-most populous county and the fifth-most populous in the United States. Its county seat is San Diego, the second-most populous city in California and the eighth-most populous city in the United States. It is the southwesternmost county in the 48 contiguous United States, and is a border county. It is also home to 18 Native American tribal reservations, the most of any county in the United States.
Image: FA18CHornet Over San Diego Nov 08
Image: Mission San Diego de Alcalá church
Image: Sdsumain
Image: Hotel Del Coronado
