Wildfire statistics show that several factors impact the current number of dangerous wildfires. However, it’s confirmed that people are responsible for most fires that get out of control.
Below, you will find the most up-to-date statistics.
Top 10 Wildfire and Forest Fire Statistics to Get the Facts Straight
- In 2020, there were 57,000 forest fires in the US.
- Deaths related to wildfire smoke inhalation could increase to 40,000 per year.
- In 1999, a single discarded cigarette caused 39 deaths in France.
- 5 million hectares were burned in Australia during the 2020 summer season.
- Over 400,000 hectares of Europe’s natural land burned in 2019 fires.
- 183 arsonists have been arrested since the bushfire season started.
- There were over 80,000 fires in Brazil in 2019.
- The Jamanxim National Forest fires increased by 355% over one year.
- 2019 has had the highest number of recorded fires since 2010.
- About 1.25 billion animals died in the recent bushfires.
There’s a lot of misinformation about forest fires out there. It’s essential to separate the facts from the conspiracies and political wars that take on a life of their own when these tragedies occur.
General Global Wildfire Statistics
Wildfires are a part of nature, and nothing can be done to stop them from happening entirely.
The only thing that can be done is to keep them under control. And take preventive measures to keep them from taking on a life of their own and causing irreversible damage.
Proper education and preparedness are essential for controlling forest fires. So is fast action by governments for preserving lives and preventing damage.
1. There was a 25% decrease in area burned between 2003 and 2019, according to global wildfire statistics from 2020.
(Forbes)
Wildfires have been raging in Australia and the Amazon. Still, NASA shows that there’s been an overall decrease in the burnt area.
Just in Africa alone between 2003 and 2015, the burned area declined by 270,000 square miles—or approximately the size of Texas. As we can see, governments’ tactics to prevent the spread of wildfires are working.
2. In 2020, there were 57,000 forest fires in the US.
(iii)
Wildfire statistics for 2021 show a considerable increase in U.S. wildfires in 2020 compared to 50,477 fires in 2019.
More than 10.3 million acres burned throughout 2020, in contrast to the nearly 4.7 million in 2019.
This includes the August Complex Fire, one of California’s most massive wildfires in the state’s history, with 1.03 million acres burned.
Along with the Camp Fire, which became the most destructive and deadliest in state history. Camp Fire statistics reveal it killed 85 people.
(Phys.org)
Wildfire deaths are difficult to calculate. The fire’s effects go beyond affecting the individuals immediately caught by the fire.
Inhaling the smoke from wildfires not only damages human health, but it can also be deadly.
The chronic inhalation of smoke causes about 15,000 wildfire deaths per year, according to 2018’s findings, and numbers are expected to increase.
Wildfire smoke consists of a mixture of microscopic particles and gasses. They can cause many respiratory problems that worsen chronic lung and heart diseases.
4. Over 400,000 hectares of Europe’s natural land burned in 2019 fires.
(European Commission, Euronews)
Wildfire facts show that most of the burned area was located in Spain, Portugal, and Poland. With that said, 159,585 hectares of the burned area was protected land.
2019 also saw a three times increase in the number of fires compared to the year before.
There has, however, been a considerable decrease in the most affected countries since the 1980s.
5. In 1999, a single discarded cigarette caused 39 deaths in France.
(DW, WHO)
It’s common for forest fires to be caused by cigarettes, statistics show.
A cigarette lit and then discarded from the window of a moving car in France resulted in fiery destruction in the Mont Blanc Tunnel.
Millions of smokers light more than 6 trillion cigarettes globally every year. When they aren’t disposed of properly, these cigarette butts risk starting a forest fire.
Also, smokers’ lighters and matches falling into the wrong hands (such as young children) further increases the risk, according to fires caused by cigarettes statistics.
6. 611 people were killed in the EU wildfires between 2000 and 2017.
(European Commission)
Statistics reveal that wildfires kill an average of 34 firefighters and civilians per year in the European Union.
7. Between 2011 and 2016 in the EU, forest fire-prevention costs were €22.6 million per year ($25.15 million).
(European Commission)
After a major fire in Portugal, forest fires studies determined a mean annual rehabilitation cost of €38.9 million.
Overall, wildfire information and facts show that a total of €135.8 million was spent on fire prevention from 2011 to 2016.
8. Smoke from the wildfires makes Coronavirus even more dangerous.
(The Conversation)
Wildfire smokes carry air pollutants that are 50 times smaller than a grain of sand. These pollutants can settle deep into the lungs. They increase the risk of death, especially in people infected with Covid-19.
Researchers at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that the risk of death increased 20 times for Covid-19 patients who inhaled wildfire smoke.
Australian Bushfires and Wildfire Statistics
The Australian bushfires have received a lot of attention over the last couple of months, and with reason.
Aside from it being one of the hottest summers on record, there’s been a lot of human fault in the current state of the fires and the destruction we’re seeing.
The government didn’t take proper preventive action or offered firefighters enough support. It’s also been concluded that the fires are being started both intentionally and unintentionally.
9. 5 million hectares were burned in Australian wildfires during the 2020 summer season.
(AP News)
This has already resulted in at least 19 people’s death and the destruction of over 1,400 homes.
Wildfire statistics by state from 2020 show the most affected area was New South Wales, where at least 445 homes were destroyed, followed by Victoria with dozens more.
In just the two states, there were 10 confirmed deaths, with 28 more people missing in Victoria alone.
10. 963 people signed up for evacuation by sea during the 2020 Australian bushfires.
(AP News)
This is in addition to the many more that have been evacuated by air.
The coastal town of Mallacoota, Victoria, was cut off from the world for days due to the wildfires.
This forced about 4,000 of its residents and tourists to find shelter from the fire on beaches. Residents and tourists were then brought to the HMAS Choules.
11. As forest fire statistics reveal, 183 arsonists have been arrested since the bushfire season started.
(New York Post)
There are some arguments about the validity of this number. Still, claims are that blazes were lit deliberately in the Shoal Haven region in NSW between July and September 2019.
A total of 101 people have been caught setting fires in the bush.
In fact, most fires have been caused by people rather than natural causes such as lightning.
12. The summer of 2019–2020 in Australia has been continuously breaking heat records.
(BBC)
Australia continues to experience its worst drought recorded in recent history. Gradually, the temperatures in Australia have been going up, according to the map of Australian fires.
This confirms that climate change is the ultimate culprit for increasing the severity of natural disasters like droughts and bushfires.
13. There were 136 fires still burning in January 2020.
(Twitter)
According to the maps, 69 of the fires were still uncontained in New South Wales at the time.
The media may be fast in revealing the latest news. Still, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) has taken to Twitter to keep anyone interested in the current state of the bushfires up to date.
14. It’s estimated that 30,000 koalas died across Australia, according to the current Australian fires map.
(National Geographic)
The rescues were abruptly interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. However, scientists from the University of Sydney estimate that a third of the species has died in the bushfires.
Furthermore, about half of the koala population on Kangaroo Island died. Totaling approximately 25,000 animals.
These numbers are catastrophic. However, the numbers of koala populations were stable enough to not worry about the species’ potential extinction.
15. Eucalyptus trees are partly to blame for the uncontrollable Australian bushfires.
(Live Science)
Forest fire facts show that the eucalyptus trees give the fires the needed fuel to grow uncontrollably.
Eucalyptus oil is very flammable. When combined with dry foliage and wind, it can result in an explosive firestorm in minutes.
16. About 1.25 billion animals died in the recent bushfires.
(Gizmodo)
These wildfire statistics are based on a methodology developed in 2007 for a WWF report. It states that for every 1.6 million acres of land in Australia cleared (or in this case destroyed by fire), approximately 104 million animals die.
This includes the deaths of kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, wombats, snakes, and many more animals native Australia.
Not all the animals in this number died in flames. Some will die from injuries, starvation, dehydration, and loss of habitat following the bushfires.
Amazon Rainforest Fire Facts
The Amazon rainforest extends across 6.7 million square kilometers. For comparison, it’s about twice the size of India.
It crosses eight countries’ borders: Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, and the territory of French Guiana.
Approximately 60% of the rainforest is within Brazilian borders. This is why Brazil has the most impact on protecting the rainforest.
Deforestation for factory farming has also been identified as one of the leading wildfire causes, as statistics for the Amazon reveal.
17. There are 1,173 threatened animal species at risk in the Amazon rainforest.
(CNN)
The Brazilian Environmental Ministry updated the Official National List of Endangered Species. It revealed that over 1,000 Amazon species are threatened.
Furthermore, there are 318 critically endangered species, just over 400 in danger, and nearly 450 vulnerable populations.
The main threat to these animals used to be the loss of habitat due to the expansion of agriculture.
Now they’re threatened by fires since the Amazon and the animals living in it aren’t adapted to surviving these conditions.
18. There were over 80,000 fires in Brazil in 2019.
(The Verge)
Some interesting facts about wildfires show an unexpected increase in the number of fires in Brazil in 2019, with numbers going up in August.
For August, more wildfires were reported than ever recorded before. There was a near 80% jump from the records during the same period in 2018.
More than half of the recorded fires in Brazil were fires that took place in the Amazon rainforest.
19. Bolsonaro turned down more than $22 million in help.
(The Verge)
Emmanuel Macron shared his concern about Amazon’s wildfires and called for action. He also pushed for international emergency talks regarding the Amazon during the G7 summit.
As wildfire statistics from 2020 reveal, this resulted in the world’s seven largest economies offering more than $22 million to Brazil on August 26.
Bolsonaro turned down this offer. He and other Brazilians felt it would affect Brazil’s sovereignty and their authority over how the Amazon is controlled.
Since then, the aid has been under consideration, and Brazil accepted $12.2 million from the UK.
20. The Jamanxim National Forest fires increased in number by 355% over one year.
(Towards Data Science)
As global forest fire statistics reveal, the 2019 Amazon rainforest fires were very unusual in nature. They resulted in unprecedented destruction.
Many of the more surprising numbers come from the very high fire counts in some of the most protected areas. The active fires increased by more than three-fold in the Jamanxim National Forest in just a year.
Statistics further reveal that the fires in this area were 44% above the average, according to long-term findings.
21. The latest wildfire facts and information show that the Amazon accounts for a bit under 10% of the world’s oxygen.
(BBC)
The Amazon Rainforest is claimed to be the “lungs of the Earth.” However, it’s a common misconception that it produces 20% of the world’s oxygen is inaccurate.
Although it does provide a lot of oxygen, the truth is that the Amazon absorbs about half of it back through the respiration process.
Plus, the rainforest’s soil, animals, and microbes use a lot of this oxygen too.
Put simply, the Amazon ultimately absorbs back more or less the same oxygen it produces.
22. 2019 has had the highest number of recorded fires since 2010.
(Mongabay)
When it comes to the number of wildfires per year, the data is shocking. There were a total of 41,858 recorded fires in August 2019 in the Brazilian Amazon. In 2010, there were 58,476 recorded fires.
Regardless, 2019 isn’t as bad as the numbers shown from the mid-2000s, when the number of recorded fires surpassed 60,000 yearly.
Furthermore, in 2005, El Nino caused an extreme drought that led to 94,780 reported fires in August.
California Wildfire Statistics
The last couple of years have been very harsh for California when it comes to forest fires getting out of control.
Although a lot is being done to prevent and control them, there are many concerns about things potentially getting worse in the future.
You may already be aware of some of the statistics below, but some may surprise you.
As with all wildfires, there are different points of view about the dramatic fires recently. We’ve gathered some of the most critical facts you must know to stay up-to-date.
23. The history of California wildfires reveals this state had the US’s harshest fires.
(The Data Face)
Between 1992 and 2015, Alaska and Idaho had massive wildfires that burned more acres on average than California’s fires for the same period.
However, in the summer of 2018, the Mendocino Complex Fire alone burned more than 450,000 acres, making it the largest fire in California history.
24. Currently, California’s 2,019,800 properties are at risk from wildfires.
(iii)
The latest research reveals that California takes first place in the number of properties at risk. It’s followed by Texas with 717,800 properties and Colorado with 371,100 properties at risk.
Montana takes first place with 29% of properties at risk, and Idaho closely follows it with 26%.
[visualizer id=”1937″]
From there, the numbers drop off to 17% for Colorado and 15% for California and New Mexico.
25. According to further California wildfire stats, it’s estimated that over 20,000 animals were affected by the Camp Fire in 2018.
(Wildfire Today)
Due to these numbers and the needed funds for second responder efforts, the CLIF Second Responder Fund was started.
The fund’s first project provided the Butte community $1.5 million to break ground on a brand new Humane Society facility.
The facility is intended to serve as an emergency center in future fires or other disasters in Northern California.
26. 2019’s wildfire statistics show that 806 US fires were classified as significant or large.
(FAS)
This makes up only 2% of all US fires, with 27 fires burning more than 40,000 acres and 11 fires burning more than 100,000 acres.
The harsh summer wildfires in California make up the majority of the numbers.
The statistics reveal that just a year before, the US experienced larger and more significant fires.
While the percentage was the same, the total number of significant and large fires was 1,167, with 48 burning more than 40,000 acres and 11 burning more than 100,000 acres.
27. California wildfires, statistics show, have led to $11.4 billion in insurance claims for losses in November 2019.
(LA Times)
Due to the fires in November 2019, claims to cover losses have skyrocketed.
The number is expected to continue to grow as more than 13,000 homes and businesses with insurance saw a total loss.
Insurance companies reported that they received more than 46,000 claims covering businesses, homes, vehicles, other personal and business items, and property.
28. As a result of the recent US wildfire statistics, the PG&E utility company has started using power shut-offs for fire prevention.
(Scientific American)
This is due to PG&E facing bankruptcy following the 2017 and 2018 fires, which resulted in about $30 billion in liabilities. The utility company began shutting the power off for many of the residents in Northern California.
When the humidity drops and winds pick up, the risk of fire increases as vegetation and tree branches can damage power lines, sparking a fire. They sharply increased power shut-offs in 2019 to prevent further liabilities.
FAQ
29. What is the largest wildfire in world history?
It’s difficult to say precisely what fire is the biggest in history since fires are rated depending on different factors. Factors such as area burned, the number of deaths, cost, and more.
With that said, the Miramichi Fire of 1825 is considered the worst wildfire in history in many lists. It consumed 3 million acres and killed more than 160 people.
30. What country has the most wildfires?
A wildfire can happen in any country, but they’re most common in the US and Canada.
Other places where forest fires occur often are Australia, Brazil (the Amazon), and the Western Cape of South Africa.
Generally, wildfires are more likely to impact areas with moist climates that boost foliage growth with very dry periods in the summer.
31. What is the average size of a wildfire?
The average size of wildfires varies from year to year and has been gradually increasing for some time. In the 1980s, the average size of a US wildfire was 30 acres. Today it has gone up to 101 acres.
32. What was the worst fire in American history?
Based on the number of deaths, the largest wildfire in US history was the Thumb Fire in Thumb, Michigan. It burned more than a million acres and killed 282 people in a single day.
33. How many acres has the Amazon burned?
It’s hard to determine the exact acreage of the burned areas in the Amazon.
National Geographic estimates that fires have destroyed more than 17% of the Amazon over the last 50 years. The recent fires are expected to increase this number by more than 25%.
34. Can rain put out a wildfire?
It depends on the kind of rain and how long it lasts.
If there’s lightning, for example, it may contribute to the fire. At least eight hours of rain are necessary to ease the situation, but it can’t put out a big fire.
Over 24 hours of continuous rain with 25–40 mm of accumulation is ideal, as long as there isn’t any wind or lightning.
35. Do you stop wildfires with fire?
Firefighters often use fire to stop a fire, though there’s always the risk of making things worse.
Controlled burns create a barrier between an oncoming fire. They burn away potential fuel that would allow it to continue in that direction.
Although very useful, it can be dangerous.
Firefighters could lose control due to weather conditions. Controlled burns are more effective as a preventive procedure to remove this fuel earlier, so the fires can’t grow.
36. What started the California fires?
Typically, people start most fires in California. For example, the El Dorado fire started when a family used a pyrotechnic device to announce their baby’s gender.
The history of wildfires in California also shows that a simple thing as driving a car can start a fire. That was the case with the Apple Fire in Southern California. A car sent soot into dry vegetation, and a fire started.
37. Why does California have wildfires?
Besides people, California’s wildfires are also triggered by its climate. Warm and dry climates are always more prone to fires. However, global warming is causing higher temperatures. In turn, higher temperatures dry out fuels, so all you need is a spark.
38. How many forest fires happen a year?
As of 1983, the NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center) has documented on average 72,000 forest fires. And that’s in the US alone. Unfortunately, the number is growing each year.
39. How do wildfires occur?
Fuel, oxygen, and heat are the crucial components for starting any fire. This is something firefighters refer to as the fire triangle.
Sometimes fires occur naturally. All you need is a hot summer’s day, a dry climate, and a spark from a car, lightning, or sun. Powerlines blown by strong winds can also start a fire.
However, in most cases, people are the main reason. Campfires, cigarettes, burning debris, arsons, fireworks, or matches can quickly start a fire.
Conclusion
There are arguments about climate change. People discuss whether it’s taking place at all and being the culprit for the recent wildfires getting out of control. However, shifts in weather patterns are clearly impacting the number of seasonal wildfires.
Forest fire statistics like these are the best way to understand the causes and solutions while learning what the future holds.
Unfortunately, we haven’t seen the last of wildfires, and hot and dry summers are expected to bring more in the upcoming years.
One thing we know is that preventive actions are the best tactics toward keeping forest fires from getting out of control. Controlled burning and proper education of the public are essential to keeping these fires under control.
We hope these wildfire statistics will help you in your search for the truth among the many contradicting theories discussed over the last couple of months.
Sources
- AP News
- BBC
- BBC
- CNN
- DW
- EPA
- Euronews
- European Commission
- European Commission
- FAS
- Forbes
- Gizmodo
- iii
- LA Times
- Live Science
- Mongabay
- National Geographic
- New York Post
- Phys.org
- Scientific American
- The Conversation
- The Data Face
- The New York Times
- The New York Times
- The Verge
- Towards Data Science
- WHO
- Wildfire Today
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