In brief
A collaborative study by international fire scientists highlights that the frequency of the world's most economically damaging wildfires has increased 4.4 times since the 1980s. This alarming trend is closely tied to human-induced climate change and the expansion of urban areas near wildlands. The research emphasizes the need for targeted action to combat the growing wildfire crisis.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Wildfires are becoming more frequent and devastating than ever, occurring four times more often than in the 1980s due to human-induced climate change and urban encroachment into fire-prone areas, according to a new study published in the journal *Science*.Researchers from Australia, the U.S., and Germany analyzed the 200 most damaging wildfires since 1980, focusing on economic impact rather than just acres burned. They found that these fires have increased 4.4 times to nearly nine catastrophic fires annually since 2014, including a record 13 in 2021. Approximately 43% of the most damaging wildfires happened within the last decade.Calum Cunningham, lead author from the University of Tasmania, reported that the surge in devastating wildfires aligns with worsening climate conditions that have become more common. The study notes that although the data ends in 2023, the last two years have recorded even more extreme conditions.Europe and North America are particularly hard hit, with regions like the Mediterranean and parts of California experiencing the highest fire risks. The research also indicates a troubling rise in fires causing fatalities, tripling the occurrences of wildfires that kill at least ten people. Examples include the 2023 Lahaina fire and the notorious 2018 Paradise fire in California.Cunningham emphasizes the flawed traditional focus on acres burned, as it does not reflect the true impact of wildfires on communities. He calls for better targeting of high-risk fires and improved management of fuel sources like dead foliage, which contribute to fire intensity.To gather comprehensive economic data on wildfires, the team utilized over 40 years of data from insurance giant Munich Re, combining it with publicly accessible records from the International Disaster Database. This study links extreme fire weather — conditions that lead to significant wildfire outbreaks — directly with the effects of climate change from fossil fuel use.Evidently, the impact of climate change is creating conditions that favor major fires, prompting experts to urge immediate action to enhance wildfire preparedness and resource management.
