The Basin Complex Fire was a massive wildfire near
Big Sur that ignited on June 21, 2008 and was the result of a
lightning strike. It eventually grew to 162,818 acres (658.90 km2), becoming the second-largest wildfire of the
2008 California wildfire season and burning most of the
Ventana Wilderness. State and federal officials spent more than $120 million to fight the fire, making it the most expensive fire in California history up to that point and the second most expensive in U.S. history, exceeded only by the
Biscuit Fire in 2002.[3] Eventually, the
Thomas Fire surpassed the Basin Complex Fire in firefighting costs as well.
The fire
The wildfire forced the evacuation of
Big Sur prior to the July 4
holiday weekend.[4]Camp Pico Blanco was forced to evacuate the camp and diverted its Scouts to
Boulder Creek Scout Reservation in Santa Cruz. The camp lost only one building, an outlying ranger's cabin.[5] Big Sur residents were permitted to return on July 9.[6]
^"Basin Complex Fire (Reposted)". Western Institute for Study of the Environment. W.I.S.E. Fire Tracking. July 25, 2008. Archived from
the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2011.