U.S. fires became larger, more frequent, and more widespread in the 2000s.
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 35294238.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abc0020 and PMC identifier 8926334.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC.
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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.