Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Wildfires can happen in many places in the United States, especially during droughts, but are most common in the Western United States and Florida. [3] They may be triggered naturally, most commonly by lightning, or by human activity like unextinguished smoking materials, faulty electrical equipment, overheating automobiles, or arson.
After a wildfire, hazards remain. Residents returning to their homes may be at risk from falling fire-weakened trees. Humans and pets may also be harmed by falling into ash pits. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also reports that wildfires cause significant damage to electric systems, especially in dry regions. [260]
The 2020 Oregon wildfire season was the most destructive on record in the state of Oregon. The season is a part of the 2020 Western United States wildfire season. The fires killed at least 11 people, burned more than 1,000,000 acres (400,000 ha) of land, and destroyed thousands of homes. [2]
Nearly 85% of U.S. wildfires are caused by humans, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Natural causes include lightning and volcanic activity. The Hawaiian Islands have six active volcanoes ...
The 2019 Amazon rainforest wildfires season saw a year-to-year surge in fires occurring in the Amazon rainforest and Amazon biome within Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru during that year's Amazonian tropical dry season. [6] Fires normally occur around the dry season as slash-and-burn methods are used to clear the forest to make way for ...
A vast majority of wildfires are started by people. Human-caused wildfires account for 88% of all wildfires in the United States on average over the last 10 years, according to the National ...
In California, wildfires caused by humans grow faster and become hotter than wildfires sparked by lightning, the studies show.
In British Columbia, 72% of wildfires in 2023 were triggered by natural causes, while the remainder were due to human activity. [59] In a study of British Columbia's 2017 fire season, researchers found that human-caused climate change had a strong influence on the amount of area burned. [60]