| Panorama Fire | |
|---|---|
 A nighttime view of a firefighter silhouetted against the flames of the Panorama Fire | |
| Date(s) |
|
| Location | San Bernardino County, California |
| Coordinates | 34°13′34″N 117°18′32″W / 34.226°N 117.309°W |
| Statistics[1] | |
| Burned area | 28,800 acres (11,655 ha; 45 sq mi; 117 km2) |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 77 |
| Structures destroyed | 325 |
| Damage | $40 million ($153 million today) |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Arson |
| Perpetrator(s) | Unknown |
| Motive | Unknown |
| Map | |
  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]
- ^ "The Panorama Fire – A Thanksgiving to remember". alpenhornews.com. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
- ^ "20 Largest California Wildland Fires (By Structures Lost)". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. 2001. Archived from the original on October 31, 2001. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- ^ "Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires" (PDF). California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. January 13, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- ^ Cataldo, Nick (November 23, 2020). "Remembering the perils of the Panorama fire after 40 years". The San Bernardino Sun. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ^ Goulding, Joan (November 26, 1980). "Firefighters took advantage of dying winds today to strengthen..." United Press International. Retrieved December 5, 2022.