Wildfires in North America are burning fiercely this year

Wildfires are scorching North America, with more than 28,000 fires burning 4.5 million acres in the U.S. alone, far surpassing previous years' averages.

Claire Moses reports for The New York Times.

In short:

• As of August 3 nearly 90 large wildfires are active in the U.S., mostly in the Pacific Northwest and California, while Canadian wildfires have scorched nearly 7 million acres.
• Extreme heat and climate change are extending fire seasons beyond typical summer months, with fires possibly burning through November.
• Firefighters are struggling to manage the numerous fires, with significant smoke affecting air quality across North America.

Key quote:

“There are some genuine ecosystem benefits to having the fires burn, but we haven’t figured out what to do about the smoke exposure.”

— Chris Field, a professor at the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford

Why this matters:

The intensity and frequency of wildfires are increasing due to climate change, affecting ecosystems and human health. Smoke from these fires degrades air quality, posing health risks across vast regions.