The U.S. States That Suffer Most Wildfires Each Year

Wildfires have become an increasingly serious challenge across many parts of the United States, particularly in regions where hot temperatures, dry conditions, and strong winds create ideal environments for fires to spread. In recent decades, longer fire seasons and shifting weather patterns have made wildfires more frequent and more destructive, putting pressure on firefighters and emergency response teams.

While some wildfires are sparked by natural causes such as lightning, many others are the result of human activity, including unattended campfires, equipment sparks, or downed power lines. Understanding where fires occur most often can help highlight the regions facing the greatest risk each year.

In this slideshow, 24/7 Tempo examines the states that experience the most wildfires annually and explores some of the major factors that contribute to these fires across the country.

Kansas received timely precipitation before the drought began, encouraging additional grassland development. For instance, last year's March was the seventh wettest on record in Wichita. The chilly season grasses benefited greatly from the rain, growing higher and more abundantly than usual. But those grasses were gone by winter.

The majority of the state is now covered in tall heaps of dried kindling that was once grass. Any moisture that does end up on the ground quickly evaporates due to persistently dry air masses. Wet grass can burn quite efficiently in these conditions after only an hour of drying. And thanks to the wind, which has been stronger than usual, fires spread more easily. March had wind speeds over two miles per hour higher than usual.

Texas heat is now hotter and lasts longer due to climate change, intensifying the drought conditions that encourage large-scale fires. There is a severe drought affecting more than 40% of the state. Texas, unlike much of the West, has two different fire seasons — late in the summer and in the fall. When temperatures are at their peak is when these occur. Spring is often the state's windiest season, making dry springs especially hazardous.

The East Amarillo Complex Fire, which burned through 907,245 acres on March 12, 2006, was the largest wildfire in Texas history. This fire started when strong winds knocked trees into power wires, which ignited an adjacent pine forest with sparks.

By the time the fire subsided, it had scorched more than 34,000 acres of land, burned over 1,600 dwellings, claimed the lives of two individuals, and injured at least another dozen. Approximately 95% of Bastrop State Park was reportedly burned by this fire, according to The American-Statesman.

A little over half of the wildfires in Alaska are sparked by lightning, with the remaining ones being ignited by humans accidentally, purposefully, or through ignorance. Only two square miles of the 4,687 square miles that have burned so far this year have been caused by human activity.

Fighting every wildfire in Alaska is neither practical nor necessary. Alaska usually lets most fires put themselves out. This approach serves a crucial function in the state's ecology by clearing out low-lying waste, thinning trees, and regenerating habitats for plants and animals. Fires in populated areas are put out using firefighting equipment.

The Bureau of Land Management's lightning monitoring network has recorded around 145,000 lightning strikes in Alaska and nearby Canadian regions so far this year. A startling 42 percent happened between July 5 and 11, when weather systems brought rain but also caused the start of approximately 50 fires.

Like Alaska, the forests and rangelands of Idaho require a certain quantity of wildfire. Fire revitalizes the ground by destroying dead vegetation and thinned grass and releasing resources for new plants. Over 270,000 acres have burned this year in Idaho; this number can rise anytime. Extreme fire seasons are the new norm, according to most specialists.

Idaho is expanding as more people live close to and enjoy outdoor recreation in forests and rangelands, which increases the risk of wildfires. Unwanted wildfires started by humans are unfortunately on the rise with growth. In 2021, the state had 408 wildfires. Humans caused around 254. 154 was the result of lightning.

The state aggressively pursues those who start wildfires to recoup the costs associated with firefighting, even though temperatures across Idaho have become milder. The change in weather brought higher winds and thunderstorms with lighting and can start multiple fires.

Most statistics are shown to be human causes or lightning causes of wildfires. Several other ones happen in Arizona. A flat tire or chains dragging from a vehicle can produce sparks. Since Arizona is hot and dry, these can easily catch grass on fire. One car was reported starting 18 separate fires there.

Another thing that can cause fire easily here is cigarettes. People can catch grass on fire if they don't put them out. Fire seasons in Arizona are getting more challenging to predict. Due to their climate and how windy it is, this creates a drier environment and can easily feed the flames. About 45% of the population is at risk for a wildfire in their area. That is almost three million people.

As a result of climate change, California has been suffering hotter weather and drier seasons, leading to more prolonged and more severe drought seasons. A wildfire can start more quickly, which also increases the severity of the blaze once it gets going. The last four years have seen over 50% of over 15 largest wildfires in California history. Over 10% are caused naturally. There is a plan in place that will do controlled burning of fire hazards. This includes burning off dead grass and such to reduce the chances of a wildfire starting and spreading. It is like putting a bandaid on the cause of the problem, which is climate change.

Roughly 70% of the wildfires in Oregon are caused by human activities like campfires, debris burns, fireworks, sparks given off by equipment, or cigarettes. Lightning strikes are the second most common cause. The state experiences an estimated an estimated 500-1000 fires wildfires annually, particularly during the dry summer months. The most fires recorded in a year was 2020, with 5,715.

Over the past decade, Oregon has faced numerous wildfires, with an estimated 500-1000 fires occurring each year. One of the most devastating wildfires in Oregon's recorded history was the Tillamook Burn, which occurred in multiple stages between 1933 and 1951. The initial fire in August 1933 was sparked by logging operations and eventually burned over 355,000 acres of forest land. This series of fires significantly impacted Oregon's timber industry and led to major changes in forest management practices. However, the worst fire ever recorded in Oregon was the Silverton Fire of 1865, which burned over 900,000 acres.

Colorado typically experiences around 2,500 wildfires annually, with some estimates putting them over 5,000. These wildfires burn around 237,500 acres annually. Half of these fires are caused by lightning strikes occurring during dry thunderstorms, which are spread by high winds. Another prominent cause of Colorado wildfires is drought. The Third National Climate Assessment has found that the state's wildfires have increased due to drought, heat, and an increase in insect outbreaks.

The most destructive wildfire in Colorado's history was the Marshall Fire in December 2021. Unusually occurring in winter, this fire was likely caused by human activity, though the exact cause remains under investigation. It burned 6,026 acres and destroyed 1,084 homes, making it the most destructive fire in terms of property loss in state history.

In Washington state, human activities cause 85–90% of the wildfires each year, followed by lightning strikes. Washington experiences an average of 900 wildfires annually, with most occurring in the eastern part of the state.

In the last 10 years, the state has seen several significant fire seasons, with some years experiencing over 1,700 fires. The largest single fire in Washington's history was the Carlton Complex Fire in July 2014. Sparked by lightning, this fire burned approximately 256,108 acres, destroyed 353 homes, and caused one fatality. It also cost an estimated $98 million in damages.

In Montana, wildfire season runs from May to October, with the peak season occurring across 12 weeks starting in mid-July. While lightning is one primary natural cause of wildfires in Montana, 75% of them are caused by humans. Montana has experienced an average of just over 61,000 wildfires annually with an estimated 7.2 million acres burned. Over the past decade, the state has seen several severe fire seasons, with some years recording over 2,000 fires.

The largest wildfire in Montana's recent history was the Lodgepole Complex Fire in July 2017. Caused by a lightning strike, this fire burned approximately 270,200 acres of land, primarily affecting grasslands and sagebrush areas in eastern Montana. Ultimately, the largest fire on record was dubbed "The Great Fire of 1910." This fire, which burned approximately 3 million acres of timberland, is considered by some experts to be one of the largest wildfires in the world. Lasting from August 20-23, it ripped through both Montana and Idaho, taking the lives of 78 firefighters among the 85 total fatalities.

Human activities are the cause of 90% of wildfires in New Mexico annually, with lightning being the leading natural cause. Factors fueling these fires include New Mexico's dry climate, unique grasslands and plant life, ongoing drought conditions, and high winds.

In the past decade, New Mexico has faced several significant fire seasons, with some years recording over 1,500 fires. The largest wildfire in New Mexico's history is the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, which began in April 2022. This fire was caused by a prescribed burn that escaped containment and merged with another fire. It burned approximately 341,735 acres and cost an estimated $4 billion in its destructive wake.

Wildfires are increasing, and if you are in any of these states that have them frequently, it's essential to have a safety plan. The leading cause of all the wildfires is the drier environment, higher heat, and more wind. This is a result of climate change. The best way to stop the disasters caused by wildfires is to prevent them.

You can help battle the awful effects of climate change by researching more about what causes it. Find out what you can do and, if you live in these states, keep dead grass away from your home, barbecue grills, and campfires. Please share this post with someone who lives in one of these states so they can be aware of the risks and causes.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Ronnie Chua/Shutterstock.com.