Wildfires in the Americas

A newly published assessment shows that wildfires across North, Central and South America are no longer just “bigger than usual” — they’re being significantly amplified by human‑driven climate change. University of Leicester

Between March 2024 and February 2025, wildfires consumed 3.7 million km² — an area larger than India. University of Leicester During that time, over 100 million people were affected, and the estimated economic damage reached $215 billion. University of Leicester

In one headline case, wildfires in Southern California during January were 25 times larger and twice as likely because of climate change — resulting in 30 deaths, 150,000 evacuations, and approximately $140 billion in losses. University of Leicester

The study’s authors used satellite data and climate‑models to attribute these extreme fire seasons to warming, vegetation changes and land‑use shifts. Their conclusion: without human‑driven warming, many of these fires would not have reached extreme scale. University of Leicester

They highlight that if emissions continue unchecked, fire‑intense regions like the Pantanal‑Chiquitano could face major wildfire events every 15‑20 years — events once considered once‑in‑a‑lifetime. University of Leicester

Why This Matters

This is more than just bigger fires. It signals that ecosystems, communities and infrastructure are entering a new normal of fire risk — one accelerated by climate change. The fact that these changes are already measurable means adaptation and mitigation must go hand in hand.

Published by - Anya Pal - October 25th 2025

Published By - Anya Pal

April 15th 2024