>Wildfires are burning millions of acres in California, Oregon and other parts of the western
US, devastating towns and blanketing communities in thick smoke. Scientists say the region's
wildfires are the worst in 18 years and have linked their increasing prevalence and intensity to climate change.
Follow this link for full answer
Really, where can wildfires be found?
Wildfires can occur anywhere, but are common in the forested areas of the United States and Canada. They are also susceptible in many places around the world, including much of the vegetated areas of Australia as well as in the Western Cape of South Africa.
Otherwise, how many wildfires have there been 2020?
2020 California wildfires
| Total fires | 9,279 |
| Total area | 4,359,517 acres (1,764,234 ha) |
| Cost | >$2.059 billion (2020 USD) |
| Buildings destroyed | 10,488 (CAL FIRE) 9,211 (NIFC Year-to-Date report) |
On top of this, how many states have wildfires?
Top 10 States For Wildfires Ranked By Number Of Fires And By Number Of Acres Burned, 2019
RankStateNumber of fires
| 1 | California | 8,194 |
| 2 | Texas | 6,892 |
| 3 | North Carolina | 3,872 |
| 4 | Georgia | 3,158 |
Is Amazon still burning?
One year has passed since the world was shocked by the images of the fires blazing across the Amazon in Brazil. But since then, the forest hasn't stopped burning —and 2020 could be even more devastating for the rainforest and the Indigenous Peoples who call it home.
9 Related Questions Answered
Brazil
June through August tends to be the high point of wildfire season in most years nationally. The only recent year in which the peak month didn't fall within that window was 2011, when a host of wildfires in Texas caused Governor Rick Perry to declare 252 counties as disaster areas.
Fire officials said Saturday that the fire was sparked by a "smoke-generating pyrotechnic device, used during a gender-reveal party." As of Tuesday morning, the fire had grown to nearly 10,000 acres, CNN reported.
The Oregon Department of Forestry declared fire season beginning on July 5, 2020, signaling the end of unregulated debris burning outdoors, a major cause of wildfires. In early September, unusually high winds and continued dry weather caused the rapid expansion of multiple wildfires in Oregon.
Remove combustibles, including firewood, yard waste, barbecue grills, and fuel cans, from your yard. Close all windows, vents, and doors to prevent a draft. Shut off natural gas, propane, or fuel oil supplies. Fill any large vessels—pools, hot tubs, garbage cans, or tubs—with water to slow or discourage fire.
In 2020, deforestation has dropped to somewhat less than last year's extent, but is still above average, and fires are up over this time last year. In addition, it is an extraordinarily dry year for much of the eastern Amazon, which could cause large and long-lasting fires if they escape into standing forests.
Loss rates
PeriodEstimated remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon (km2)Percent of 1970 cover remaining
| 2016 | 3,322,796 | 81.0% |
| 2017 | 3,315,849 | 80.9% |
| 2018 | 3,308,313 | 80.7% |
| 2019 | 3,298,551 | 80.5% |
Amazon rainforest continues to burn in 2020, despite promises to save it. A soldier puts out fires in the forest near Novo Progresso, Brazil, in September 2019.
These massive fires are driven by a combination of things such as climate change, difficult wind conditions, and years of fire suppression. Wildland fires have become more intense, lasted longer, and burned more acres across California in recent years.