United States wildfires scorch 700,000 hectares amid severe drought

More than 90 large fires are active across the United States, burning over 700,000 hectares of forest and rangeland. The National Interagency Fire Center attributes the rapid spread to a prolonged drought and record‑high temperatures, especially in the western states such as Oregon, California, Washington and Colorado.

Scientists warn that flash droughts—intense, short‑lived dry periods—amplify fire risk by drying soils and vegetation faster than standard droughts. Recent research shows that when a standard drought transitions into a flash drought, the landscape becomes “hyper‑flammable,” leading to faster‑spreading and larger fires.

Globally, while fires in Europe and North America are becoming more extreme, overall fire‑related carbon emissions are at a historic low because fire activity has declined sharply in Africa and Asia. This paradox highlights the mixed impact of human land‑use changes on wildfire dynamics worldwide.