2023 Fire Season in the Northern Hemisphere

Whether sparked by lightning, intentional land-clearing, or human-caused accidents, wildland fires are burning longer and more often in some northern latitudes as the world warms.
A Hazy November in Northern India
Image

A Hazy November in Northern India

Even with fewer fires than normal in fall 2023, poor air quality plagued the region.

Published Nov 20, 2023

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Fires Human Presence

A Smoky Pall Over Canada
Image

A Smoky Pall Over Canada

Wildland fires usually wind down in autumn, but this year they continued to rage into October.

Published Oct 3, 2023

Image of the Day Atmosphere Fires

Wildfires Burn Near Hay River
Image

Wildfires Burn Near Hay River

The same fire that overran the town of Enterprise is now threatening more towns in Canada’s Northwest Territories.

Published Aug 25, 2023

Image of the Day Heat Fires

Wildfires Rage in Greece
Image

Wildfires Rage in Greece

Wildfires in the country’s northeast sent smoke streaming over Mediterranean waters.

Published Aug 22, 2023

Image of the Day Heat Fires

Wildfires Approach Yellowknife
Image

Wildfires Approach Yellowknife

Fires burning near the provincial capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories have forced evacuations for tens of thousands of people.

Published Aug 17, 2023

Image of the Day Heat Fires Human Presence

Smoke in the Pacific Northwest
Image

Smoke in the Pacific Northwest

Extreme heat, bouts of strong winds, and a prolonged drought are fueling large forest fires in western Canada and the United States.

Published Aug 17, 2023

Heat Land Fires

Relentless Wildfires in Canada
Image

Relentless Wildfires in Canada

At the fire season’s midway point, a surge of activity is darkening skies in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

Published Aug 11, 2023

Image of the Day Heat Land Fires

Devastation in Maui
Image

Devastation in Maui

Strong winds and dry weather helped fuel destructive wildfires on Hawaii’s second-largest island.

Published Aug 10, 2023

Image of the Day Heat Fires Human Presence

Fire Season Heats Up in the West
Image

Fire Season Heats Up in the West

Following a slow start to the fire season, several blazes burned across the western U.S. in early August.

Published Aug 3, 2023

Image of the Day Heat Land Fires

Fires Ignite on Greek Islands
Image

Fires Ignite on Greek Islands

Wildfires broke out on Rhodes and other islands amid record heat, forcing thousands to evacuate.

Published Jul 25, 2023

Image of the Day Heat Fires Human Presence

La Palma on Fire
Image

La Palma on Fire

A large wildfire in the northwest Canary Islands charred pine forests and homes.

Published Jul 18, 2023

Image of the Day Atmosphere Fires

Fires Rage in British Columbia
Image

Fires Rage in British Columbia

Heat and drought have fueled an unusually large outbreak of fire in Canada.

Published Jul 13, 2023

Image of the Day Heat Fires

Canadian Smoke Reaches Europe
Image

Canadian Smoke Reaches Europe

Smoke from wildland fires in Canada traversed the Atlantic Ocean and drifted over European countries including Portugal and Spain.

Published Jun 26, 2023

Image of the Day Atmosphere Fires

Smoke Blankets the Upper Midwest
Image

Smoke Blankets the Upper Midwest

Smoke from the fires in Canada polluted the air and shrouded the Minneapolis skyline.

Published Jun 15, 2023

Image of the Day Atmosphere Fires Human Presence Remote Sensing

Hazardous Air Chokes Northeastern States
Image

Hazardous Air Chokes Northeastern States

Smoke originating from Canadian wildfires caused historically poor air quality.

Published Jun 8, 2023

Image of the Day Atmosphere Fires

Smoke Smothers the Northeast
Image

Smoke Smothers the Northeast

Fires in Quebec have delivered one of the most intense outbreaks of smoke seen in the eastern U.S. in decades.

Published Jun 7, 2023

Image of the Day Land Fires

Fires Burn Across Quebec
Image

Fires Burn Across Quebec

By June 2023, about 160,000 hectares had burned in the province since the start of the year.

Published Jun 5, 2023

Image of the Day Land Fires Human Presence

Raging Fires in Nova Scotia
Image

Raging Fires in Nova Scotia

Dry and windy conditions fueled the spread of unusually large fires in eastern Canada.

Published May 31, 2023

Image of the Day Heat Land Fires Human Presence

A Smoky May for North America
Image

A Smoky May for North America

Fierce fires in Canada are the source of smoke that has swirled across much of the continent.

Published May 24, 2023

Image of the Day Atmosphere Fires

Smoke Fills North American Skies
Image

Smoke Fills North American Skies

Smoke from wildland fires caused poor air quality and hazy skies in several cities.

Published May 16, 2023

Image of the Day Atmosphere Fires

Fires Scorch Western Canada
Image

Fires Scorch Western Canada

Raging fires destroyed homes in Alberta and produced towering chimneys of smoke.

Published May 8, 2023

Image of the Day Land Fires Human Presence

Fires in Jalisco
Image

Fires in Jalisco

Hundreds of wildfires have burned in the Mexican state in 2023.

Published May 3, 2023

Heat Land Fires Human Presence

Burn Scars in Kansas
Image

Burn Scars in Kansas

Fires that burned in the grassy Flint Hills region in spring 2023 left their mark on the landscape.

Published Apr 17, 2023

Image of the Day Land Fires

A Raging Fire in Spain
Image

A Raging Fire in Spain

The 2023 fire season got off to an early start with a major fire in the Castellon province.

Published Mar 29, 2023

Image of the Day Land Fires Human Presence