Wildfires are increasing. In the past ten years, there have been 641,000 recorded wildfires, and 68 million acres burned in the United States. California seems to catch fire every month, and Australia nearly burned to the ground a few months ago. While we usually perceive climate change as contributing to hurricanes, it has also been linked to droughts. What’s climate change’s role in droughts?  Why do droughts cause fires? And what can you do to make sure you don’t start the next raging wildfire? Let’s explore. 

Wildfires need two things, dry fuel and wind. As droughts occur, they decrease humidity and lead to dry, brittle vegetation, making the perfect fuel for a fire. Additionally, high winds help move the flame from tree to tree, or building to building, until it is out of control. In these perfect conditions, a spark from lightning, electrical failure, human error, or even planned fires can quickly get out of control. Climate change is increasing droughts and thus wildfires. 

Hotter temperatures can enhance evaporation from the soil, reduce soil nutrients, and diminish crop production. Prolonged droughts can activate a feedback loop where arid lands and diminished foliage can further suppress rainfall in an already dry area. When this continues for long periods, we can face megadroughts. Scientists have recently decided that the term drought doesn’t cut it anymore. For instance, here in Colorado, we’ve faced nine-year-long droughts. Across the North American Southwest, we’ve seen a spike in droughts and, thus, a spike in wildfires. Even in Australia, before it nearly burned to the ground, they faced the hottest and driest temperatures just days before the fire broke out. 

It’s becoming easier than ever to start the next wildfire. All it takes is a spark (like the one beginning California’s Camp Fire) to destroy millions of acres. It’s quite simple to prevent these fires. Listen to current fire restrictions! When there’s a fire ban, don’t make s’mores in the forest. And if there isn’t, make sure your fire is at least 15 feet away from the nearest vegetation. When you’re done with it, put it out with a bucket of water so the damp wood can’t burn. Last, if you smell smoke or see a forest fire, make sure to report it ASAP. The sooner we can catch forest fires, the sooner we can put them out and help save lives (and Koalas). 

Climate change is changing everything. It’s making things wetter, but at the same time dryer. In some places, it’s getting hotter, and in other places the weather is becoming less consistent. The future has never been so unpredictable. It’s up to you to make sure you keep this planet healthy for generations to come. Enjoy nature, don’t destroy it. By taking the effort to like a greener life, you can help make our planet that much more beautiful.

Hey there! Below you can find the sources we used to find how droughts and climate change are related. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding these sources.

Our Sources

Center, Jessica. "A Drier Future Sets the Stage for More Wildfires – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet." Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet, 9 July 2019, https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2891/a-drier-future-sets-the-stage-for-more-wildfires.

Procedures Fees and Licenses, AuthorsInformation. "A 1,200-Year Perspective of 21st Century Drought in Southwestern North America." PNAS, 14 Dec. 2010, https://www.pnas.org/content/107/50/21283.

"Recent Australian Droughts May Be the Worst in 800 Years | Climate and Energy College." Climate and Energy College, http://climatecollege.unimelb.edu.au/recent-australian-droughts-may-be-worst-800-years. Accessed 20 Oct. 2020.

Wootson, Cleve. "The Deadliest, Most Destructive Wildfire in California’s History Has Finally Been Contained." The Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/11/25/camp-fire-deadliest-wildfire-californias-history-has-been-contained/.

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/IF10244.pdf. Accessed 20 Oct. 2020.