Storrie Fire

Storrie Fire
A map of the Storrie Fire, showing its spread northeast up the Feather River Canyon through Plumas and Lassen National Forests.
The Storrie Fire began in the Feather River Canyon and progressed northeast through Plumas and Lassen National Forests.
Date(s)
  • August 17 (17-08)
  • September 9, 2000 (2000-09-09)
  • (24 days)
LocationPlumas County, Northern California, United States
Coordinates39°55′3″N 121°19′24″W / 39.91750°N 121.32333°W / 39.91750; -121.32333
Statistics
Burned area55,261 acres (22,363 ha; 86 sq mi; 224 km2)
Impacts
Deaths0
Non-fatal injuries≥5
Structures destroyed1
Damage
  • $22 million
  • (equivalent to about $37 million in 2023)
Ignition
CauseSparks from railroad track repairs
Map
A map of California with a pin marks the Storrie Fire's location in the state's northeastern quadrant, in Plumas County.
A map of California with a pin marks the Storrie Fire's location in the state's northeastern quadrant, in Plumas County.
The Storrie Fire burned in the northern Sierra Nevada, largely in Plumas County.

The Storrie Fire was a sizeable wildfire in Northern California's Plumas County and the second-largest of California's 2000 wildfire season. The fire began on August 17, 2000, and was fully contained by September 9; it burned 55,261 acres (22,363 hectares) in total and resulted in minimal property damage or casualties. The cost of containing the Storrie Fire amounted to $22 million (equivalent to about $37 million in 2023).

The fire was accidentally begun by Union Pacific Railroad workers, who were using a saw tool to repair train tracks in the Feather River Canyon near the community of Storrie. In an effort to recoup the costs of fire suppression as well as damages to federal lands, the U.S. government filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific over the Storrie Fire in 2006. Two years later, after a landmark ruling allowed the government to seek compensation for the full value of the land harmed by the fire, Union Pacific resolved the suit by paying the government a $102 million settlement.