Wildfire terminology may obscure human role in vegetation fires

The term ‘wildfire’ may be misleading in regions like Europe, where human activity is responsible for approximately 97% of ignitions. While the technical definition of wildfire includes both natural and human-caused unplanned vegetation fires, the common usage of the word often implies a lack of human involvement.

In the United Kingdom, parliamentary briefings have noted that almost all wildfires are started by people, with lightning being logged as the cause of only three recorded instances in British fire service history. The current naming conventions, which often focus on geography rather than cause, can obscure the distinction between the initial spark and the environmental conditions that allow a fire to spread.

Using a term like ‘landscape fire’ is suggested as a way to better communicate the role of human ignition and the specific conditions that lead to severe fire behavior.