Wildfire activity in the United States saw a significant decrease in 2023, with approximately 2.69 million acres burned. This marks a decline of 64 percent from the previous year and represents the lowest figure recorded since 1998. Despite this positive development, a concerning upward trend in wildfire damage across the country has developed in the past half a century.
Humans or lightning?
A wildfire can start by natural causes. In 2023, 5,883 California and Florida were the states most affected, each with around 600 cases recorded. Nevertheless, human-caused wildfires continue to play a significant role in the overall landscape. In 2023, over 50,000 wildfires in the U.S. were attributed to human activity, resulting in more than 1.5 million acres burned.
Wildfire suppression
The financial burden of wildfire suppression remains substantial. The estimated costs of wildfire suppression in the U.S. stood at almost 3.2 million U.S. dollars in 2023, a 13-fold increase in comparison to 1985. As climate change continues to alter weather patterns and create more favorable conditions for wildfires, the need for effective prevention, management, and suppression strategies is becoming increasingly critical.
Acres burned by wildfires in the United States from 1983 to 2023
(in millions)
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National Interagency Fire Center. (January 30, 2024). Acres burned by wildfires in the United States from 1983 to 2023 (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/203990/area-of-acres-burnt-due-to-wildland-fires-in-the-us/
National Interagency Fire Center. "Acres burned by wildfires in the United States from 1983 to 2023 (in millions)." Chart. January 30, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 19, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/203990/area-of-acres-burnt-due-to-wildland-fires-in-the-us/
National Interagency Fire Center. (2024). Acres burned by wildfires in the United States from 1983 to 2023 (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 19, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/203990/area-of-acres-burnt-due-to-wildland-fires-in-the-us/
National Interagency Fire Center. "Acres Burned by Wildfires in The United States from 1983 to 2023 (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 30 Jan 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/203990/area-of-acres-burnt-due-to-wildland-fires-in-the-us/
National Interagency Fire Center, Acres burned by wildfires in the United States from 1983 to 2023 (in millions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/203990/area-of-acres-burnt-due-to-wildland-fires-in-the-us/ (last visited December 19, 2024)
Acres burned by wildfires in the United States from 1983 to 2023 (in millions) [Graph], National Interagency Fire Center, January 30, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/203990/area-of-acres-burnt-due-to-wildland-fires-in-the-us/
