How many wildfires are burning in the us

As wildfire seasons in many areas throughout the nation start earlier and last longer, is on track to be another devastating year for fires. As of Saturday, there are a total of 88 large wildfires burning in the U. With help from unprecedented heat waves and drought , new fires are rapidly igniting, sometimes quicker than they can be contained.

The fires, which have predominantly affected the western region of the country, have created nationwide air pollution and resulted in thousands of evacuations.

Using data compiled from Inciweb, a national wildfire tracker provided by the U. Forest Service, these are the country's five active wildfires with the largest acreage burned as of Saturday:.

The country's largest wildfire has burned , acres in Fremont-Winema National Forest, which is about 15 miles northwest of Beatty, Oregon. More than 2, personnel have worked since July 6 to contain the wildfire, which is when officials say it was first ignited by lightning and natural causes.

The fire is now the third-largest wildfire in the state's history, and is larger than the entirety of New York City. Its smoke has traveled as far as New York and Canada, according to images this week from the National Weather Service. The wildfire is now large enough to control the area's weather with its pyrocumulus clouds that can generate lightning.

The cause of the wildfire, ignited on July 13, is under investigation and more than 4, personnel are working to contain it. Dixie is currently the largest fire burning in California. The Mendocino Complex Fire broke out on July 27 in Northern California and grew to be the largest fire state history to date, with , acres burned. Eight fatalities are attributed to the fire, and 1, structures were destroyed. The Camp Fire broke out in Butte County, California, on November 8 and became the deadliest and most destructive fire on record in the state.

According to Cal Fire statistics 85 people perished. About , acres were burned and 18, structures were destroyed. The Hill and Woolsey Fires started on November 8. The Woolsey Fire burned about 97, acres, according to Cal Fire. It destroyed about 1, structures and killed three people. The Hill Fire burned about 4, acres and destroyed four structures. The fund would prevent the state from having to bail out utilities facing bankruptcy, removing the burden from taxpayers.

The California Earthquake Authority CEA , which currently purchases reinsurance for earthquakes that occur in the state, will handle administrative responsibility for the fund. According to Artemis , the fund could operate as a risk pool where electric utility exposure could be handled by insurance, reinsurance or insurance-linked securities.

About 10 million acres were burned in , compared with 5. The number of acres burned in was higher than the year average. From October 6 to October 25, eight counties in Northern California were hit by a devastating wildfire outbreak that caused at least 23 fatalities, burned , acres and destroyed more than 8, structures. The Tubbs Fire began on October 8 and destroyed almost 37, acres and 5, structures and claimed 22 victims.

The Atlas Fire also began on October 8 and consumed 52, acres and destroyed structures. Six people perished in the Atlas Fire. The Thomas Fire was ignited on December 4. It burned , acres and destroyed 1, structures. The Thomas Fire was the sixth-costliest on record in the United States. The three primary factors considered in analyzing wildfire risk are distribution of vegetative fuel, steepness of slope and degree of access for firefighting equipment.

FireLine assigns a wildfire hazard score for each factor plus a cumulative score, on a scale from negligible to extreme risk. The following chart ranks the most wildfire-prone western U. According to Verisk estimates, more than 4.

Now more than ever, we need your help to prevent wildfires. The Dixie Fire reignites trauma for people who survived California's deadliest wildfire in history. Idaho is the state with the biggest number of large fires, at However, Oregon has the most acres burned: , among its 11 fires. The Bootleg Fire near the California border is alone responsible for burning , acres.

Read More. A total of 67 structures have been destroyed due to the Dixie Fire, and an evacuation order remains in place for the Butte Meadows, Jonesville and Lake Philbrook areas. There have been no fatalities reported at this time. It began July 4 due to a lightning strike, and most evacuation orders for the area have now been lifted. Wildfires aren't just affecting the mainland US. The fire has scorched more than 40, acres since it started Friday.