Alaska’s record-breaking heat and dry conditions over the summer months set the conditions for the state’s historic wildfire season. In 2019, wildfires caused an estimated $4.5 billion in damages in California and Alaska. NOAA estimates the total costs of wildfires in 20 to be more than $40 billion. The 2018 wildfire season went on to also break records as the deadliest and most destructive season on record in California. The 2017 wildfire season was well above average, with deadly fires in California and throughout the West, including Montana, Oregon, and Washington state. Since 2000, 15 forest fires in the United States have caused at least $1 billion in damages each, mainly from the loss of homes and infrastructure, along with firefighting costs. Changes in climate add to these factors and are expected to continue to increase the area affected by wildfires in the United States. Land use and forest management also affect wildfire risk. Warmer, drier conditions also contribute to the spread of the mountain pine beetle and other insects that can weaken or kill trees, building up the fuels in a forest. wildfires are caused by people-warmer temperatures and drier conditions can help fires spread and make them harder to put out. Once a fire starts-more than 80 percent of U.S. In the Southeastern United States modeling suggests increased fire risk and a longer fire season, with at least a 30 percent increase from 2011 in the area burned by lightning-ignited wildfire by 2060. West, projections show that an average annual 1 degree C temperature increase would increase the median burned area per year as much as 600 percent in some types of forests. Increased drought, and a longer fire season are boosting these increases in wildfire risk. Research shows that changes in climate create warmer, drier conditions. Climate change enhances the drying of organic matter in forests (the material that burns and spreads wildfire), and has doubled the number of large fires between 19 in the western United States. All these factors have strong direct or indirect ties to climate variability and climate change.
Wildfire risk depends on a number of factors, including temperature, soil moisture, and the presence of trees, shrubs, and other potential fuel. Climate change has been a key factor in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the Western United States.
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