The Latest Breaking News on Wildfires

Sydney has experienced its first total fire ban in almost three years and several schools along the New South Wales state coast to the south have been closed because of a heightened wildfire danger caused by unusually hot and dry conditions across southeast Australia

Extreme fire risks and heatwave warnings as the Bureau of Meteorology confirms El Niño has arrived

People have been using fire for millennia. It is a vital part of many ecosystems and cultures. Yet human activities in the current era, sometimes called the “Anthropocene”, are reshaping patterns of fire across the planet.

Staffing levels could worsen if Congress doesn’t pass a permanent pay raise before current bonuses are phased out

As the state’s wildfire season continues, rural fire departments and their volunteers are strained to keep up with hundreds of fires.

This century, Australia has suffered more frequent and more severe bushfires. The Black Summer fires of 2019–20 were the worst on record for the area burned and property loss.

Canada has experienced an unprecedented wildfire season in 2023. People’s experiences with any disaster event are influenced by social- and place-based vulnerabilities. For example, where you live affects your exposure to different hazards including wildfires and floods.

The new tally of 66 people still missing represents a significant drop from a week earlier, when authorities said 385 remained unaccounted for. The confirmed death toll remains at 115.

The U.S. government is investing over US$7 billion in the coming years to try to manage the nation’s escalating wildfire crisis.