U.S. Fires Became Larger, More Frequent, and More Widespread in the 2000s

Overview

Journal Sci Adv

Specialties Biology
Science

Date 2022 Mar 16

PMID 35294238

Authors

Virginia Iglesias

Jennifer K Balch

William R Travis

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Recent fires have fueled concerns that regional and global warming trends are leading to more extreme burning. We found compelling evidence that average fire events in regions of the United States are up to four times the size, triple the frequency, and more widespread in the 2000s than in the previous two decades. Moreover, the most extreme fires are also larger, more common, and more likely to co-occur with other extreme fires. This documented shift in burning patterns across most of the country aligns with the palpable change in fire dynamics noted by the media, public, and fire-fighting officials.

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