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7 Wildfire Facts

by Meaghan Weeden ● June 06, 2024 ● 2 min read

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In recent years, we have seen record-breaking wildfire seasons. According to the Global Forest Watch, we have lost over 138 million hectares of global forest cover in the last decade to wildfire. And within that time period, 2023 was the most severe year: 11.9 million hectares (42% of all tree cover loss that year) were lost to fire.

As fires continue to grow in severity and intensity, it's important to understand what drives them, what happens afterward, and what steps we can take to prevent them. Here are 7 Wildfire Facts you should know — even if you don't live in a fire-prone region.

Here Are 7 Facts You Should Know About Wildfires

1. Fires Caused By Humans

According to the National Park Service, nearly 85% of wildfires in the United States are started by humans.

2. Lightning Strikes

If humans didnt exist, wildfires would mostly be started by lightning strikes.

3. Yearly Fires Burn Millions of Acres

According to the Global Forest Watch, we have lost over 138 million hectares of global forest cover in the last decade to wildfire.

4. Restoration

After a severe fire, timely reforestation is critical: depending on fire severity and the local climate, it can take a few years to a decade for plants to establish in a burn scar. And the plants that do grow may not be native, leading to vegetation type conversion, such as from native forest to shrubland.

5. Prevention

Fire prevention is a proactive, interdisciplinary set of strategies that aim to reduce the risk of forest fires. One well-studied management technique is prescribed burning, which is the careful use of fire to meet specific objectives — such as reducing fuels on the ground by burning specific areas in the understory of a forest.

6. Climate Change

Climate Change is a threat multiplier that intensifies extreme weather events and environmental conditions such as drought, hotter temperatures, and pest and disease outbreaks. These contribute to longer and more severe fire seasons by facilitating drier and warmer conditions and increasing fuel loads (the total amount of combustible material in a defined area).

7. Impacts on Wildlife

Today, forest and grassland animal and plant communities have never been more exposed to severe wildfire. Catastrophic fires induce widespread tree mortality that results in reduced biodiversity and extensive habitat loss for wildlife, including many threatened and endangered species.

What is One Tree Planted doing, and can you help?

We're connecting with our partners on the ground to establish forest fire recovery projects in areas that are ready for planting. You can help by supporting our Forest Fire Fund, which was established to provide critical funding for these projects.

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Meaghan Weeden

Meaghan works to share our story far and wide, manages our blog calendar, coordinates with the team on projects + campaigns, and ensures our brand voice is reflected across channels. With a background in communications and an education in environmental conservation, she is passionate about leveraging her creativity to help the environment!