Infographic from National Firefighter
Wildland fires can be terrifying and devastating, so it doesn’t hurt to be informed. Take a look at the data above to see where wildfires occur most often.
Wildfire Facts
- Roughly 90% of wildland fires in the U.S. are started by humans (i.e. unattended campfires, burning debris, cigarettes, and acts of arson).
- Wildland fires occur in nearly every state in the U.S. But they occur mostly in the American west—these states typically have the conditions—dry fuel, hot temperatures, and drought—that are perfect for wildland fires.
- States like Idaho, California, Texas, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington experience some of the largest and/or most devastating wildland fires.
Record High Acres Burned
The 2015 fire season broke historical records for number of U.S. acres burned:
- 2015 Total Acres Burned: 10,125,149
- Compared to 2014 Total Acres Burned: Under 4 Million
- Previous Record-High: 9.8 Million Acres Burned in 2006
