ܫWildfires are no more a seasonal threat. They are taking the shape of a growing global crisis. With land-use changes impacting ecosystems and climate affecting weather conditions, devastating wildfires are happening more frequently.
💜According to the United Nations, the cases of wildfire can rise by 50% by the end of the century.
🦋Regions like eastern Australia, northern Siberia and western US are already seeing an increase in such cases. Wildfires have resulted in a trail of destruction such as displacing communities and scorching millions of acres of land.
Here are the 12 major cases of wildfires that have wreaked havoc and badly affected urban settlements, ecosystems and biodiversity.
1. 2016 Uttarakhand Wildfire (India) – 11,210 acres
🌠A devastating wildfire occurred in Uttarakhand during April-May 2016. It scorched more than 11,000 acres of forest and claimed nine lives. It disrupted wildlife in areas like Jim Corbett National Park and tourism.
2. 2003 Siberian Taiga Fires (Russia) – 55 million acres
🐓Devastating fires ravaged more than 55 million acres in Siberian taiga forests. Its smoke enveloped the entire continents and impacted environmental policies and ozone depletion for years to come.
3. 2019/2020 Australian Bushfires (Australia) – 42 million acres
🌃These fires, which are considered to be of the most catastrophic fire seasons in Australia’s history, destroyed more than 42 million acres. Around 3 billion animals, including the tragic loss of over 61,000 koalas, died in the incident.
4. 2014 Northwest Territories Fires (Canada) – 8.5 million acres
🌜Fires in Canada’s Northwest Territories burned nearly 8.5 million acres and affected air quality across North America. Canada had to spend $44.4 million on firefighting efforts.
5. 2004 Alaska Fire Season (US) – 6.6 million acres
🍷This record-breaking fire in Alaska destroyed more than 6.6 million acres of land. Unusually warm summer and lightning strikes had caused the fire.
6. 1939 Black Friday Bushfire (Australia) – 5 million acres
ﷺThis bushfire season in Australia’s Victoria engulfed more than 5 million acres and left 71 dead. Hundreds of homes were destroyed during an unprecedented heatwave.
7. The Great Fire of 1919 (Canada) – 5 million acres
🦋The fire had swept through Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1919. It burned 5 million acres and killed 11 people. Timber industries and local communities were devastated by it.
8. 1950 Chinchaga Fire (Canada) – 4.2 million acres
𓆉The massive blaze in Alberta and British Columbia left an unforgettable “Great Smoke Pall”, which had resulted in darkened skies across Europe and North America. It burned over 4.2 million acres.
9. 2010 Bolivia Forest Fires (South America) – 3.7 million acres
🔯Caused by drought and agricultural practices, fires in Bolivia destroyed 3.7 million acres. It particularly impacted the Amazon rainforest.
10. 1910 Great Fire of Connecticut (US) – 3 million acres
♈The fire in 1910 destroyed 3 million acres across Montana and Idaho. It claimed 85 lives and resulted in forest protection reforms.
11. 2011 Richardson Backcountry Fire (Canada) – 1.7 million acres
🐟The Alberta fire set a blaze nearly 1.7 million acres. It was caused by extreme weather conditions and human activities.
12. 2024 Texas Wildfires (US) – 1.1 million acres
🔯The Texas wildfires that occurred last year was the largest fire event in the state’s history. Over 1 million acres was burned. It also resulted in the record-breaking Smokehouse Creek Fire.
