How dangerous are wildfires and how can we stop them from getting worse?
Summary
Wildfires cause hundreds of deaths each year, but the smoke they create leads to about 1.5 million deaths worldwide annually. Climate change is making conditions hotter and drier, which increases the chance and intensity of wildfires in many regions.Key Facts
- Wildfires directly kill hundreds of people yearly; however, smoke from these fires causes about 1.5 million deaths each year.
- Smoke from wildfires can travel long distances, affecting air quality far from the fire’s location.
- Causes of wildfires include lightning, downed power lines, careless smoking, unattended campfires, and arson.
- Climate change, caused by burning fossil fuels, has raised global temperatures by about 1.3°C, making wildfires more likely.
- Land use changes by people, such as farming and urban growth, have reduced the total area burned by wildfires since 1900.
- Fire weather conditions are expected to worsen, causing increased wildfire risks and larger burned areas by the end of the century.
- Managing land, such as creating fire breaks, controlled burns, and grazing to remove vegetation, can reduce wildfire dangers.
- Indigenous techniques of controlled burning are being adopted to help prevent large, uncontrollable wildfires.
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