Global Wildfire History Shows Record-Breaking Fires Fueled by Climate Change

Extreme weather linked to climate change has made large‑scale forest fires increasingly common worldwide. A review of the most destructive wildfires highlights events such as the 1910 fire in the northern Rocky Mountains, which burned about three million hectares and claimed 87 lives, and the ongoing Siberian taiga blazes since 2022 that have scorched several million hectares and released massive amounts of carbon dioxide.

In Europe, the European Union reports that by 22 July 2026 more than 254,000 hectares have burned, with France, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy experiencing especially large losses. Experts warn that as forests disappear, more carbon is released, intensifying warming and creating a feedback loop that could drive even larger future fires.