GITNUXREPORT 2026

Wildfires Statistics

Most wildfires are started by humans, but lightning also causes a significant number.

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Lightning strikes ignited 2,390 wildfires in the United States in 2023, representing 12.5% of all reported wildfire ignitions that year.

Statistic 2

Human activities, including debris burning, caused 16,591 wildfires in the US in 2023, accounting for 87.5% of total ignitions.

Statistic 3

Campfires were responsible for 4.5% of wildfire starts in California between 2001-2020, per CAL FIRE data.

Statistic 4

Equipment use sparked 21% of wildfires on US federal lands from 2000-2017.

Statistic 5

Arson accounted for 8% of wildfire ignitions in Australia during the 2019-2020 Black Summer fires.

Statistic 6

Power lines caused 11% of wildfires in California from 2013-2022, leading to major events like the Dixie Fire.

Statistic 7

Smoking materials ignited 3.2% of US wildfires annually averaged from 2010-2022.

Statistic 8

Children and arsonists under 18 started 14% of structure fires that spread to wildfires in the US in 2021.

Statistic 9

Volcanic activity rarely causes wildfires but did so in 1% of Iceland's fires from 1950-2020.

Statistic 10

Railroad sparks accounted for 2.1% of wildfires in Canada from 2015-2020.

Statistic 11

Wildfires emit 8 billion tons CO2 yearly, 25% of human emissions.

Statistic 12

2019-2020 Australian fires released 830 Mt CO2 equivalent.

Statistic 13

Boreal forest fires release 40% more CO2 than tropical per area.

Statistic 14

Wildfires destroy 80 million trees annually in US national forests.

Statistic 15

Amazon fires reduced rainfall by 10% regionally in 2019.

Statistic 16

Post-fire erosion increases sediment yield by 100-1000 times.

Statistic 17

Wildfires kill 50% of soil microbes, delaying recovery 5-10 years.

Statistic 18

2023 Canadian fires released 640 Mt CO2, 4x annual Canadian emissions.

Statistic 19

High-severity fires convert forests to shrublands in 20% of CA cases.

Statistic 20

Wildfire smoke reduces solar irradiance by 20-50% downwind.

Statistic 21

Post-fire invasive species invade 30% of burned US areas.

Statistic 22

Boreal permafrost thaw from fires accelerates by 50%.

Statistic 23

Wildfires acidify soils, reducing pH by 0.5-1 unit.

Statistic 24

Global wildfires threaten 25% of biodiversity hotspots.

Statistic 25

The US had wildfires on 4.3 million acres in 2023, 20% below average but with large fires dominating.

Statistic 26

Australia's 2019-2020 fires burned 18.6 million hectares, 50 times the annual average.

Statistic 27

Canada's 2023 wildfires scorched 18.5 million hectares, largest in modern records.

Statistic 28

California's 2020 fire season burned 4.3 million acres, 4% of state land.

Statistic 29

Amazon fires destroyed 11,088 km² of rainforest in 2019.

Statistic 30

Siberia's 2021 fires burned 10 million hectares, 25% of Russia's annual total.

Statistic 31

Greece's 2021 Evia fire consumed 107,000 hectares over 11 days.

Statistic 32

Portugal's 2017 fires burned 520,000 hectares, 5% of national territory.

Statistic 33

The 2023 Canadian fires affected 4.5 million hectares in Quebec alone.

Statistic 34

Australia's Black Summer fires destroyed 24% of Australia's temperate broadleaf forests.

Statistic 35

Maui's 2023 Lahaina fire burned 2,170 acres, destroying 2,200 structures.

Statistic 36

Global burned area averaged 3.7 million km² annually from 2001-2022 per satellites.

Statistic 37

Chile's 2024 fires (ongoing data) have burned 50,000 hectares by Feb.

Statistic 38

Oregon's 2020 Labor Day fires scorched 1 million acres in 3 days.

Statistic 39

In 2022, the US experienced 63,542 wildfires, up 12% from the 10-year average.

Statistic 40

Canada reported 6,658 wildfires in 2023, nearly double the 2001-2022 average of 3,658.

Statistic 41

Australia saw 18,000 wildfires in the 2019-2020 season, 50% above average.

Statistic 42

California had 7,742 wildfires in 2023, compared to a 5-year average of 6,510.

Statistic 43

Global wildfire frequency increased by 25% from 2001-2022 per MODIS satellite data.

Statistic 44

Siberia experienced 10 million hectares burned in 2021, with 1,500+ fires active simultaneously.

Statistic 45

Greece had 93 wildfires in 2021 summer, exceeding the 2000-2020 average by 40%.

Statistic 46

Portugal recorded 12,000 fire events in 2022, 20% more than the previous decade's mean.

Statistic 47

Amazon basin saw 80,000 fire hotspots in August 2019, triple the 2018 figure.

Statistic 48

South Africa had 1,200 wildfires in the Western Cape in 2019, 30% above seasonal norms.

Statistic 49

The 2023 Maui wildfires consisted of 3 major fires starting within 24 hours.

Statistic 50

Europe experienced 1,200 wildfires in July 2022 alone, per EFFIS data.

Statistic 51

Alaska reported 587 fires in 2023 by July, 150% of average.

Statistic 52

Chile had over 400 wildfires in early 2023, surpassing 2017 records.

Statistic 53

India recorded 25,000 forest fire alerts in Uttarakhand 2023 summer.

Statistic 54

Wildfire smoke exposure causes 7 million asthma attacks yearly worldwide.

Statistic 55

PM2.5 from US wildfires increased cardiovascular deaths by 1.5% in 2020.

Statistic 56

2020 CA wildfire smoke led to 10,000 excess deaths across North America.

Statistic 57

Firefighters have 14% higher lung cancer risk from smoke exposure.

Statistic 58

Wildfire smoke reduces birthweight by 4g per 10µg/m³ PM2.5 exposure.

Statistic 59

Australian 2019-20 fires caused 445 premature deaths from smoke.

Statistic 60

Ozone from wildfires increases respiratory hospitalizations by 2-5%.

Statistic 61

30% of US population exposed to unhealthy air from 2023 Canadian fires.

Statistic 62

Chronic wildfire smoke exposure raises dementia risk by 15%.

Statistic 63

Children under 5 face 2x higher asthma risk from wildfire PM.

Statistic 64

2023 Maui fires caused acute respiratory issues in 1,000+ survivors.

Statistic 65

Global wildfire PM2.5 caused 2.3 million deaths 1997-2022.

Statistic 66

Wildfires destroyed 18,000 homes in California from 2017-2020.

Statistic 67

The 2023 Maui fires killed 102 people and cost $5.5 billion in damages.

Statistic 68

US wildfires caused $20 billion in insured losses in 2020 alone.

Statistic 69

Australia's 2019-2020 fires killed 33 people and 3 billion animals.

Statistic 70

Camp Fire (2018) in CA killed 85, destroyed 18,800 structures, cost $16.5B.

Statistic 71

Lahaina fire displaced 12,000 residents, with 97% uninsured.

Statistic 72

US wildfire suppression costs averaged $3 billion annually 2018-2022.

Statistic 73

2023 Canadian fires evacuated 2.7 million people across provinces.

Statistic 74

Woolsey Fire (2018) damaged 1,500 structures, cost Hollywood $42M.

Statistic 75

Global wildfires cause 340,000 premature deaths yearly from smoke.

Statistic 76

California's wildfires led to 4 million acres of timber loss, $10B economy hit 2018-2020.

Statistic 77

2021 Dixie Fire destroyed 1,000+ homes, cost PG&E $2.5B settlement.

Statistic 78

US wildfires injure 7,000 firefighters annually on average.

Statistic 79

Paradise CA rebuild post-2018 fire: only 20% homes rebuilt by 2023.

Statistic 80

Wildfire smoke caused $800B global economic loss 2000-2018.

Statistic 81

Europe's 2022 fires cost €3B in damages and suppression.

1/81

Sources

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While lightning strikes grab headlines by causing thousands of wildfires, the startling truth is that nearly nine out of every ten blazes are ignited by us.

Key Takeaways

Lightning strikes ignited 2,390 wildfires in the United States in 2023, representing 12.5% of all reported wildfire ignitions that year.
Human activities, including debris burning, caused 16,591 wildfires in the US in 2023, accounting for 87.5% of total ignitions.
Campfires were responsible for 4.5% of wildfire starts in California between 2001-2020, per CAL FIRE data.
In 2022, the US experienced 63,542 wildfires, up 12% from the 10-year average.
Canada reported 6,658 wildfires in 2023, nearly double the 2001-2022 average of 3,658.
Australia saw 18,000 wildfires in the 2019-2020 season, 50% above average.
The US had wildfires on 4.3 million acres in 2023, 20% below average but with large fires dominating.
Australia's 2019-2020 fires burned 18.6 million hectares, 50 times the annual average.
Canada's 2023 wildfires scorched 18.5 million hectares, largest in modern records.
Wildfires destroyed 18,000 homes in California from 2017-2020.
The 2023 Maui fires killed 102 people and cost $5.5 billion in damages.
US wildfires caused $20 billion in insured losses in 2020 alone.
Wildfires emit 8 billion tons CO2 yearly, 25% of human emissions.
2019-2020 Australian fires released 830 Mt CO2 equivalent.
Boreal forest fires release 40% more CO2 than tropical per area.

Most wildfires are started by humans, but lightning also causes a significant number.

Causes

Lightning strikes ignited 2,390 wildfires in the United States in 2023, representing 12.5% of all reported wildfire ignitions that year.
Human activities, including debris burning, caused 16,591 wildfires in the US in 2023, accounting for 87.5% of total ignitions.
Campfires were responsible for 4.5% of wildfire starts in California between 2001-2020, per CAL FIRE data.
Equipment use sparked 21% of wildfires on US federal lands from 2000-2017.
Arson accounted for 8% of wildfire ignitions in Australia during the 2019-2020 Black Summer fires.
Power lines caused 11% of wildfires in California from 2013-2022, leading to major events like the Dixie Fire.
Smoking materials ignited 3.2% of US wildfires annually averaged from 2010-2022.
Children and arsonists under 18 started 14% of structure fires that spread to wildfires in the US in 2021.
Volcanic activity rarely causes wildfires but did so in 1% of Iceland's fires from 1950-2020.
Railroad sparks accounted for 2.1% of wildfires in Canada from 2015-2020.

Causes Interpretation

While lightning may be the dramatic villain in the wildfire story, it turns out we humans are the clumsy, prolific, and often inattentive co-authors of most of our own fiery destruction.

Environmental

Wildfires emit 8 billion tons CO2 yearly, 25% of human emissions.
2019-2020 Australian fires released 830 Mt CO2 equivalent.
Boreal forest fires release 40% more CO2 than tropical per area.
Wildfires destroy 80 million trees annually in US national forests.
Amazon fires reduced rainfall by 10% regionally in 2019.
Post-fire erosion increases sediment yield by 100-1000 times.
Wildfires kill 50% of soil microbes, delaying recovery 5-10 years.
2023 Canadian fires released 640 Mt CO2, 4x annual Canadian emissions.
High-severity fires convert forests to shrublands in 20% of CA cases.
Wildfire smoke reduces solar irradiance by 20-50% downwind.
Post-fire invasive species invade 30% of burned US areas.
Boreal permafrost thaw from fires accelerates by 50%.
Wildfires acidify soils, reducing pH by 0.5-1 unit.
Global wildfires threaten 25% of biodiversity hotspots.

Environmental Interpretation

Wildfires are Earth’s own vicious circle, turning forests from carbon vaults into chimneys, crippling ecosystems with a single scorching breath and ensuring their own future with every spark.

Extent

The US had wildfires on 4.3 million acres in 2023, 20% below average but with large fires dominating.
Australia's 2019-2020 fires burned 18.6 million hectares, 50 times the annual average.
Canada's 2023 wildfires scorched 18.5 million hectares, largest in modern records.
California's 2020 fire season burned 4.3 million acres, 4% of state land.
Amazon fires destroyed 11,088 km² of rainforest in 2019.
Siberia's 2021 fires burned 10 million hectares, 25% of Russia's annual total.
Greece's 2021 Evia fire consumed 107,000 hectares over 11 days.
Portugal's 2017 fires burned 520,000 hectares, 5% of national territory.
The 2023 Canadian fires affected 4.5 million hectares in Quebec alone.
Australia's Black Summer fires destroyed 24% of Australia's temperate broadleaf forests.
Maui's 2023 Lahaina fire burned 2,170 acres, destroying 2,200 structures.
Global burned area averaged 3.7 million km² annually from 2001-2022 per satellites.
Chile's 2024 fires (ongoing data) have burned 50,000 hectares by Feb.
Oregon's 2020 Labor Day fires scorched 1 million acres in 3 days.

Extent Interpretation

While the U.S. sometimes dabbles in statistical moderation, the global stage is being decisively commandeered by megafires that rewrite records with a ferocity that renders percentages almost quaint.

Frequency

In 2022, the US experienced 63,542 wildfires, up 12% from the 10-year average.
Canada reported 6,658 wildfires in 2023, nearly double the 2001-2022 average of 3,658.
Australia saw 18,000 wildfires in the 2019-2020 season, 50% above average.
California had 7,742 wildfires in 2023, compared to a 5-year average of 6,510.
Global wildfire frequency increased by 25% from 2001-2022 per MODIS satellite data.
Siberia experienced 10 million hectares burned in 2021, with 1,500+ fires active simultaneously.
Greece had 93 wildfires in 2021 summer, exceeding the 2000-2020 average by 40%.
Portugal recorded 12,000 fire events in 2022, 20% more than the previous decade's mean.
Amazon basin saw 80,000 fire hotspots in August 2019, triple the 2018 figure.
South Africa had 1,200 wildfires in the Western Cape in 2019, 30% above seasonal norms.
The 2023 Maui wildfires consisted of 3 major fires starting within 24 hours.
Europe experienced 1,200 wildfires in July 2022 alone, per EFFIS data.
Alaska reported 587 fires in 2023 by July, 150% of average.
Chile had over 400 wildfires in early 2023, surpassing 2017 records.
India recorded 25,000 forest fire alerts in Uttarakhand 2023 summer.

Frequency Interpretation

The planet is getting hotter and the data is screaming, “This isn’t a drill.”

Health

Wildfire smoke exposure causes 7 million asthma attacks yearly worldwide.
PM2.5 from US wildfires increased cardiovascular deaths by 1.5% in 2020.
2020 CA wildfire smoke led to 10,000 excess deaths across North America.
Firefighters have 14% higher lung cancer risk from smoke exposure.
Wildfire smoke reduces birthweight by 4g per 10µg/m³ PM2.5 exposure.
Australian 2019-20 fires caused 445 premature deaths from smoke.
Ozone from wildfires increases respiratory hospitalizations by 2-5%.
30% of US population exposed to unhealthy air from 2023 Canadian fires.
Chronic wildfire smoke exposure raises dementia risk by 15%.
Children under 5 face 2x higher asthma risk from wildfire PM.
2023 Maui fires caused acute respiratory issues in 1,000+ survivors.
Global wildfire PM2.5 caused 2.3 million deaths 1997-2022.

Health Interpretation

While it pretends to be a mere seasonal nuisance, wildfire smoke is a silent, global arsonist that is methodically setting fire to our lungs, hearts, and futures one statistic at a time.

Impacts

Wildfires destroyed 18,000 homes in California from 2017-2020.
The 2023 Maui fires killed 102 people and cost $5.5 billion in damages.
US wildfires caused $20 billion in insured losses in 2020 alone.
Australia's 2019-2020 fires killed 33 people and 3 billion animals.
Camp Fire (2018) in CA killed 85, destroyed 18,800 structures, cost $16.5B.
Lahaina fire displaced 12,000 residents, with 97% uninsured.
US wildfire suppression costs averaged $3 billion annually 2018-2022.
2023 Canadian fires evacuated 2.7 million people across provinces.
Woolsey Fire (2018) damaged 1,500 structures, cost Hollywood $42M.
Global wildfires cause 340,000 premature deaths yearly from smoke.
California's wildfires led to 4 million acres of timber loss, $10B economy hit 2018-2020.
2021 Dixie Fire destroyed 1,000+ homes, cost PG&E $2.5B settlement.
US wildfires injure 7,000 firefighters annually on average.
Paradise CA rebuild post-2018 fire: only 20% homes rebuilt by 2023.
Wildfire smoke caused $800B global economic loss 2000-2018.
Europe's 2022 fires cost €3B in damages and suppression.

Impacts Interpretation

The grim statistics of modern wildfires paint a devastating portrait of compounding tragedies, where the cost in lives, homes, and dollars is now routinely counted in the billions, revealing a global crisis that is as relentless as it is ruinous.

Sources & References

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