2024 Fires 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 areas as the world warms.
Weather-Making Fire Burns in Southern California
Image

Weather-Making Fire Burns in Southern California

Intense blazes, including the Line fire, supercharged afternoon convective clouds.

Published Sep 10, 2024

Image of the Day Heat Land Fires

Wildland Fires Scorch Idaho Wilderness
Image

Wildland Fires Scorch Idaho Wilderness

Burning for weeks, the Wapiti and Middle Fork Complex fires have charred tens of thousands of acres.

Published Sep 3, 2024

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Fires

Smoke Streams from Fires in Madeira
Image

Smoke Streams from Fires in Madeira

Heat and wind gusts helped the blazes spread through over 5,700 hectares of forest.

Published Aug 20, 2024

Image of the Day Heat Land Fires

Northwest Territories Ablaze
Image

Northwest Territories Ablaze

Boreal forests in this northerly Canadian territory have evolved to burn, but the increasing frequency of fires is putting ecosystems to the test.

Published Aug 13, 2024

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Fires

Smoke Fills the Slocan Valley
Image

Smoke Fills the Slocan Valley

In southeast British Columbia, Canada, a cluster of wildland fires surrounding Slocan Lake threatened villages and blanketed the region in smoke.

Published Jul 30, 2024

Image of the Day Heat Fires Human Presence

After the Park Fire’s Rapid Growth
Image

After the Park Fire’s Rapid Growth

The Northern California blaze expanded at lightning speed amid record heat and high winds, leaving behind a vast burned area.

Published Jul 29, 2024

Image of the Day Land Fires

Smoky Skies Across North America
Image

Smoky Skies Across North America

Hundreds of wildland fires lofted sky-dulling smoke over Canada and the United States.

Published Jul 25, 2024

Image of the Day Atmosphere Fires

Fires Char the Siberian Arctic
Image

Fires Char the Siberian Arctic

Large wildland fires are burning in the tundra of northern Russia.

Published Jul 18, 2024

Image of the Day Land Fires

Wildfire Scorches Eastern Oregon
Image

Wildfire Scorches Eastern Oregon

Fast-moving blazes tore through rangeland in the Pacific Northwest amid excessive heat.

Published Jul 15, 2024

Image of the Day Heat Fires

A Smoky Summer in Amur
Image

A Smoky Summer in Amur

Fires have been flaring periodically in this eastern region of Russia since May.

Published Jul 10, 2024

Image of the Day Fires Human Presence

Fires Char South-Central New Mexico
Image

Fires Char South-Central New Mexico

Wildland fires burned tens of thousands of acres near mountain communities including the village of Rudioso.

Published Jun 21, 2024

Image of the Day Fires Human Presence Remote Sensing

Grass Fire Chars California
Image

Grass Fire Chars California

Strong winds and ample fuel helped spread flames over 14,000 acres of grassland in San Joaquin County.

Published Jun 5, 2024

Image of the Day Land Fires

Smoke and Fire in British Columbia
Image

Smoke and Fire in British Columbia

Unusually early and intense fires are spreading rapidly amid drought and high winds.

Published May 13, 2024

Image of the Day Fires Human Presence

Fire in Southern Mexico
Image

Fire in Southern Mexico

More than 100 active fires burned across the country in late-March 2024, including this blaze near the border of Oaxaca and Chiapas.

Published Apr 2, 2024

Image of the Day Heat Fires

Fires in the Appalachians
Image

Fires in the Appalachians

Smoke billowed from multiple wildfires in the eastern U.S., fueled by dry and windy weather.

Published Mar 22, 2024

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Fires

Fires Char Cattle Country
Image

Fires Char Cattle Country

Ranchers in the Texas Panhandle recently faced a fire that charred more than 1 million acres.

Published Mar 5, 2024

Image of the Day Land Fires

Amazon Forest Fires Rage in Roraima
Image

Amazon Forest Fires Rage in Roraima

Huge understory fires are spreading throughout the state in northern Brazil as drought and heat turn the rainforest into tinder.

Published Mar 1, 2024

Image of the Day Land Fires

Fires in Guatemala
Image

Fires in Guatemala

The blaze near Quetzaltenango was one of several burning across the country.  

Published Feb 27, 2024

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Fires