The Cedar Fire (2003) was a California wildfire in San Diego County, with 273,246 acres, 2,820 structures destroyed, 15 deaths on the public record. Its cause is recorded as confirmed. No known litigation. Status as of June 15, 2026.
Fire facts
From public records; unknown values are shown, never guessed.
| Year | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Start date | Unknown |
| Containment date | Unknown |
| Region / counties | San Diego |
| Acreage | 273,246 |
| Structures destroyed | 2,820 |
| Structures damaged | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 15 |
| Cause status | confirmed |
| Officially determined arson | No / not determined |
| Last verified | 2026-06-15 |
Cause
Started as a signal fire set by a lost hunter; it became the most destructive fire of the 2003 firestorm.
Litigation status
No known litigation. Status as of June 15, 2026.
Court & regulatory record
Verified court filings for this fire are being added. We publish only documents that resolve to a public source, never a reconstructed or unverified one.
This is a reported public-record status, not advice about any individual’s legal situation. Deadlines and eligibility change over time and depend on facts specific to each person, only a licensed attorney can assess yours.
Common questions about the Cedar Fire
What caused the Cedar Fire?
Started as a signal fire set by a lost hunter; it became the most destructive fire of the 2003 firestorm.
Is there litigation over the Cedar Fire?
No known litigation. Status as of June 15, 2026.
How large was the Cedar Fire?
273,246 acres, 2,820 structures destroyed, 15 fatalities, per public records as of 2026-06-15.
Sources
- CAL FIRE Incident Statistics (Top 20 lists), CAL FIRE
- CAL FIRE Incidents archive, CAL FIRE
Facts on this page are drawn from the public sources listed above and rewritten in original words. See Sources & Methodology.