Heat Waves Increase Wildfire Risk—a New Study Explains How Much, and It's Not a Small Number

Heat waves increase wildfire risk—a new study explains how much, and it's not a small number

When heat waves hit the Western United States, the risk of wildfires quickly rises. The prolonged heat dries out vegetation, but that's only part of the cause—heat waves also play other roles in spreading wildfires.

Heat waves increase wildfire risk -- a new study explains how much, and it's not a small number

When heat waves hit, the risk of wildfires quickly rises. Prolonged heat dries out vegetation, and also plays other roles in spreading flames.

Heat waves increase wildfire risk – a new study explains how much, and it’s not a small number

A record-tying heat wave helped spread a wildfire in Northern California's Shasta and Trinity counties in July 2018. Terray Sylvester/Getty ImagesWhen heat waves hit the Western United States, the risk of wildfires quickly rises. The prolonged heat dries out vegetation, but that’s only part of the cause – heat waves also play other roles in spreading wildfires. In a new study, our team of fire and climate scientists looked at two decades of wild…

Heatwaves enable wildfire activity in the western United States

Abstract While overall impacts of heatwaves have been extensively studied, the connection between heatwaves and wildfire activity remains relatively underexplored. We analyze links between heatwaves and both wildfire occurrence and growth across the western United States (WUS) and find that 42% of burned area during 2001–2024 occurred during and immediately following heatwaves. Heatwaves facilitate significant increases in daily burned area thro…