A World Ablaze: The Climate Future We Feared is Here

This wildfire season is one of the worst on record, with hot, dry conditions across the western U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe and North Africa fueling fast-moving fires. In the U.S., nearly 5.3 million acres have burned so far this year, well above the 10-year average. Colorado, Nebraska, Utah, Oregon, and Washington have all seen major fires, and rain following Colorado's Aspen Acres fire has triggered flash flooding and debris flows across the burned area. Near Spokane, Washington, fast-spreading fires forced roughly 65,000 people to evacuate over the weekend. Canada, France, and Spain are also having their worst fire seasons on record, and Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco are dealing with deadly fires as well.

Beyond the fires themselves, smoke has been a widespread health concern. Pollution from Canadian and western U.S. wildfires has drifted as far as Florida, at times putting more than 100 million people under air-quality alerts. Cities including Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee have seen hazardous levels of fine particulate pollution, which can worsen asthma and heart or lung conditions. If you're in a region affected by wildfire smoke, it's worth paying attention to local air-quality alerts, since smoke can travel hundreds of miles from the actual fire.

For homeowners in fire-prone areas out west, the broader pattern is one of longer, more intense fire seasons driven by drought and early snowmelt, with federal wildfire preparedness currently at its highest alert level. Checking your own state's current wildfire risk and any local evacuation or air-quality resources is a reasonable step if you live in or near an affected region.