Large Loss for 2007

In mid-October, Southern California was in a drought, with only 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) of rain since January. Santa Ana winds were forecast for a wide area. The winds, along with temperatures in the nineties (low thirties Celsius), created the scenario that led to one of the costliest fire seasons in recent memory. At approximately 9:42 p.m. on October 20, the first fire erupted.