Reading Fire

Reading Fire
A plume of brown and gray smoke rises several miles away and exits to the right of the frame, rising above rugged green conifer forest dotted with mountains
The Reading Fire seen on August 7, 2012 from Mount Harkness, with Lassen Peak to the left
Date(s)
  • July 23 (23-07) –
  • August 22, 2012 (2012-08-22)
  • (31 days)
Location
Coordinates40°29′42″N 121°27′14″W / 40.495°N 121.454°W / 40.495; -121.454
Statistics
Burned area28,079 acres (11,363 ha; 44 sq mi; 114 km2)
Impacts
Non-fatal injuries2
Damage
  • $17 million
  • (equivalent to about $22 million in 2023)
Ignition
CauseLightning
Map
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The footprint of the fire in Lassen Volcanic National Park and the Lassen National Forest
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The general location of the fire in Shasta County, Northern California

The 2012 Reading Fire was a large wildfire in Lassen Volcanic National Park and the Lassen National Forest in Northern California. Ignited by a lightning strike on July 23, the fire was managed for ecological benefits by park officials until shifts in the weather caused the fire to jump its intended control lines. The Reading Fire ultimately burned 28,079 acres (11,363 hectares), partially outside the park, before it was fully contained on August 22, 2012. The fire destroyed no buildings and caused no fatalities or even serious injuries. The fire's unintended escape led members of the public and several California politicians to criticize park officials for allowing the fire to go unsuppressed after its discovery.