| Esperanza Fire | |
|---|---|
 NASA satellite image of the Esperanza Fire | |
| Date(s) |
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| Location | Cabazon, California |
| Coordinates | 33°54′50″N 116°45′17″W / 33.9139°N 116.7548°W |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | 41,173 acres (64.333 sq mi) |
| Land use | Residential; Open space |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths |
|
| Non-fatal injuries |
|
| Structures destroyed |
|
| Damage | $9.9 million |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Arson |
| Perpetrator(s) | Raymond Lee Oyler |
| Map | |
  Location of fire in California | |
The Esperanza Fire was a large, wind-driven, arson-caused wildfire that started on October 26, 2006, in a river wash near Cabazon, California, United States, west of Palm Springs. By October 29, 2006, it had burned over 41,173 acres (166.62 km2) (or 61 square miles (160 km2)) and was 85% contained. On October 30, 2006, the fire was fully contained.
Five firefighters died defending a vacant house locally known as the "Octagon" that was ultimately destroyed by the fire: Jason McKay, Jess McLean, Daniel Kurtis Najera, Mark Loutzenhiser and Pablo Cerda.
In June 2009, Raymond Lee Oyler was sentenced to death for starting the fire.