2024 North American Wildfires

• In 2022, almost 80 million properties in the U.S., or 1 in 6 people, were at risk of wildfire.
• By 2052, half of the people at risk of wildfire will live in the South.
• For two to five years after a wildfire, there is an increased risk of flooding, with flash flooding in burn scars leading to debris flows, as charred vegetation and other items are picked up by rushing water.
• A study published in Forests in 2022 found that:
  • Counties with higher wildfire risks tend to have higher rates of poverty.
  • Census tracts that are majority Hispanic, Native American or Black experience 50% greater vulnerability to wildfires (compared to majority white census tracts).
• One study found that Native Americans living in tribal communities in the U.S. now face two additional extreme heat days compared to their historical lands. They also received 23% less precipitation, 36.3% of tribal lands dealt with increased drought, and 47.7% of tribes faced increased risk from wildfires. This is a direct impact of settler colonialism.
• About 85% of U.S. wildfires are caused by people.
• Wildfires exacerbate existing affordable housing crises throughout North America.

The National Preparedness Level – set by the National Interagency Coordination Center and the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group – is currently at Level 5, which means: ”National resources are heavily committed, and additional measures are taken to support geographic areas. Active geographic areas must take emergency measures to sustain incident operations. Inactive/low activity geography areas are reaching drawdown levels.”

The National Interagency Fire Center statistics show that as of Aug. 15, 2024, 29,917 fires this year have burned more than 5.2 million acres. The year-to-date (YTD) number of wildfires is below the annual average of 35,691, but the yearly acres burned is above the 10-year YTD average of 3.8 million acres. Currently, 78 large, active fires are being managed across the nation.

A record heat wave in Arizona, California and Nevada dried out the land and increased the risk for fire activity. As of July 28, more than 200,000 acres had already burned in Arizona, compared to the 100-150,000 that burned each year during the last two years. There are currently seven large fires burning in Arizona, with a total of 67,980 acres burned.

The Watch Fire was a quickly moving fire that burned on the Carlos Apache Indian Reservation on July 11. It spread quickly through the tribal community’s land, destroying 21 homes and displacing 73 residents. Local media report that this was the most devastating structural fire to hit the reservation in at least 30 years. As of July 18, the Watch Fire was 100% contained. On July 24, law enforcement arrested a suspected arsonist.

The tribal community has a rate of poverty almost three times that of the state (40% compared to 15% for Arizona).

San Carlos Apache Tribal Chairman Terry Rambler told local media, “The human scale of this one is particularly devastating. Unfortunately, multiple families lost homes.” Indigenous activists from across the state have been organizing since July 12 to provide relief, mutual aid and support to San Carlos Apache tribal members who lost homes or belongings. Relief teams have begun cleanup.

Other significant wildfires in Arizona in 2024:

• The Freeman Fire was the largest fire in Arizona this year at slightly more than 32,500.
• The Sand Stone Fire is the second-biggest fire in the state at 27,390 acres, with 98% containment as of Aug. 12. The Skeleton Fire is the third-largest fire in Arizona, at 24,034 acres. It is 50% contained as of Aug. 12.

As of Aug. 12, California has experienced 5,087 wildfires, with nearly 812,738 acres burned. CalFire said the total acres burned this year is 29 times more than last year, with overall wildfire activity 2,816% higher.

There has been one civilian fatality; 140 structures have been damaged and 1,030 structures have been destroyed. Amid major air quality concerns, tens of thousands of Californians are advised to remain indoors and avoid using grills for cooking.

Significant 2024 wildfires include: 

• The Park Fire started on July 24 in Upper Bidwell Park, east of Chico, and has spread rapidly, reaching across 429,263 acres in Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties by Aug. 12. At more than 600 square miles, this is 13 times the size of San Francisco or a bigger area than New York City or Los Angeles.
  • A state of emergency was declared on July 26 in Butte and Tehama counties. The Park Fire is the fourth-largest wildfire in California’s history exceeding 2020’s SCU Lightning Complex.
  • Butte County has been the hardest hit in terms of destruction. With 94% of structure assessments done, Cal Fire said, “567 homes or other structures were destroyed in the blaze, with 427 of them in Butte County. Of the 51 structures damaged by the Park Fire, 46 were in Butte County.”
  • The fire is at an estimated 38% containment. Thousands of people across the affected counties have evacuated under the order of local authorities.
  • The Park Fire was caused by arson.
• The Lake Fire in Santa Barbara has now been contained after reaching 38,664 acres. Its cause remains under investigation.
• In Siskiyou County, the Shelly Fire is 92% contained and has burned about 15,520 acres since it started on July 3. More than 4,200 structures were threatened.
• The 2024 SQF Lightning Complex is composed of three fires: the Trout Fire (23,559 acres and 49% containment) and the Long Fire (9,204 acres and 95% containment) in Tulare County, and the Borel Fire in Kern County (59,392 acres with 91% containment) as of Aug. 12.

CDP California Wildfires Fund grantee partner CalMatters maintains an interactive wildfire tracker which is updated daily.

You can support CDP’s response to wildfires in the state by donating to our California Wildfires Recovery Fund.

Related reading

Several fires were burning on Colorado’s Front Range, including one that took the life of an individual on July 31. The Alexander Mountain Fire was at just under 10,000 acres on Aug. 12. The perimeter was 91% contained by Aug. 12 and evacuation orders were lifted; however, authorities also issued a flash flood warning.

Maui is still recovering from devastating wildfires that burned in Lahaina and Kula beginning the week of Aug. 6, 2023. The Lahaina fire was the worst natural hazard disaster in Hawaii’s history and the fifth-deadliest wildfire in U.S. recorded history.

For more information about the 2023 Lahaina wildfires, please see the 2023 North American Wildfires disaster profile. You can also watch the CDP webinar: Hawaii wildfires: What will recovery look like? And, you can support wildfire recovery by donating to our Hawaii Wildfires Recovery Fund.

Related reading

There are currently 25 fires burning around 250,000 total acres in Idaho, with many erupting after a storm system passed across the state on Aug. 5. Several fires remain at low levels of containment after a week. A firefighter is in critical condition after a tree fell on him while fighting the Coffee Can Saddle Fire.

• The Gwen Fire, ignited by lightning on July 24, is burning on the Nez Perce Reservation and in Nez Perce and Latah Counties. Some 90 structures, including homes, have reportedly been destroyed as of July 30. Residents are crowdsourcing assistance through GoFundMe campaigns. The fire has reached 28,820 acres and has 90% containment as of Aug. 13.
• The Limepoint Fire was also ignited by lightning on July 24, but is 27% contained as of Aug. 13. It is burning in Adams County and has reached nearly 32,000 acres. Evacuation orders issued to five threatened communities the first week of August have now been lifted and households are able to return home.
• The Paddock Fire is now a megafire – which means it’s bigger than 100,000 acres. Spanning 187,185 acres, the fire is burning 20 miles north of the town of Emmett. Weather hampered firefighters’ initial efforts to contain it, but as of Aug. 13, no further spread is anticipated. Residents of Emmett are asked to remain ready to evacuate, but evacuations have not been ordered.
• The Snag Fire is burning just east of Cascade, causing a hard closure of the Warm Lake Highway. As of Aug. 13, it had burned more than 17,000 acres and is at zero containment.

Two devastating wildfires in southern New Mexico began on June 18 and continued to wreak havoc, destroying over 1,400 structures, scorching more than 20,000 acres, and forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents, including the entire village of Ruidoso. Ruidoso, a popular tourist destination with around 7,000 residents, saw apocalyptic scenes on June 17 – smoke-darkened skies, raining embers and visible flames as evacuation orders abruptly came through with little notice. Traffic jammed downtown streets as residents hastily fled with few belongings.

South Fork Fire: A wildfire ignited on Monday, June 17 in the Mescalero Apache tribal region and rapidly spread beyond tribal land, destroying 1,400 structures and engulfing approximately 17,500 acres by the evening of June 18. As of July 15, the fire was 99% contained.

Salt Fire: Nearly 8,000 acres of the Mescalero Apache Tribe’s land was consumed. As of July 15, the fire was 99% contained.

Flooding, mudslides and debris flows from monsoon rains pummeled the burn scars of both fires beginning July 9, creating compounded emergencies for impacted residents.

FEMA has stepped in and recovery efforts are underway. The Village of Ruidoso has increased utility rates to about $139 per month per household – this is the first bill increase in more than a decade – to address maintenance and equipment replacement needs. This will likely place a financial strain on already-strapped residents who will be economically impacted by recovery.

You can support CDP’s response to wildfires in New Mexico by donating to our Disaster Recovery Fund.

Related reading

Several fires burned across Oklahoma, including the Smokehouse Creek Fire, which is listed in the Texas section above.

These fires include the Catesby Fire in Ellis County which burned 90,699 acres and was fully contained as of March 17.

The Slapout Fire in Beaver County burned 26,048 acres and was 100% contained as of March 8.

Related reading

Wildfires have burned more acres in Oregon this year than any other year since fire recordkeeping began in the state. As of Aug. 13, 21 wildfires spanning a total of 782,393 acres were burning in Oregon, including three megafires (over 100,000 acres).

The Battle Mountain Complex, which formed when the Monkey Creek megafire merged with the North Fork Owens and Snake Fires, has reached 182,863 acres and is 82% contained. Closures are lifting and evacuation levels have been lowered as population centers are no longer considered to be under threat.

The Lone Rock Fire is 137,222 acres in size and at about 95% containment as of Aug. 13.  FEMA has authorized the use of federal funds to fight it, and 12 structures have been destroyed.

The Falls Fire has reached 151,399 acres as of Aug. 13, with 87% containment. A man working as a contracted pilot of an air tanker died when his plane crashed while fighting the fire. It is burning in the Malheur National Forest, about 25 miles northwest of Burns. The forest is currently closed.

Smokehouse Creek Fire: A wildfire in Texas became the biggest fire ever in the state and the second-largest wildfire in U.S. history on Feb. 26. The fire burned more than 1.06 million acres in Texas and nearly 70,000 acres in Oklahoma. After burning for nearly three weeks, destroying farms and ranches, the Smokehouse Creek Fire was completely contained on March 16.

Disaster declarations were issued by Governor Greg Abbott for 60 counties in response to the Smokehouse Creek Fire and three other fires. More than 100 miles of power lines will need to be rebuilt. Approximately 30,000 people were located within the perimeter of the fire.

More than 500 structures, including homes, barns, outbuildings, and businesses were destroyed, and estimates show that more than 10,000 head of cattle died.  Many family farmers and ranchers lost everything.

Windy Deuce Fire: In the town of Fritch, the mayor estimated that at least 50 homes were destroyed by the Windy Deuce Fire in the southern part of the community in late February. Home to slightly more than 2,100 people, the north side of Fritch also burned in a wildfire in 2014.

The Windy Deuce Fire burned 144,045 acres, with 100% containment as of March 18.

You can support CDP’s response to wildfires in Texas by donating to our Disaster Recovery Fund.

Related reading

As of Aug. 13, eight large fires were burning for a total acreage burned of 122,001.

The Pioneer Fire, which has burned for more than two months, is now at 38,420 acres with only 13% containment. It is located 31 miles northwest of Chelan. Threatened population centers have been evacuated since July 28. The fire is burning in the footprint of the 2001 Rex Creek burn. Temperatures of 100˚F or hotter with gusty winds are increasing the spread and continuing to make the fire hard to fight.

Other large fires include:

• Cougar Creek Fire – 23,614 acres and 60% containment.
• Retreat Fire – 45,601 acres and 70% containment.

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) coordinates resource sharing, mutual aid and information sharing including, facilitation of wildfire cooperation and coordination.

The current National Preparedness Level is set to Level 5 meaning: “Wildland fire activity is significant within one or more jurisdictions. Firefighters and equipment in every jurisdiction in Canada is put to use, and international help has been requested.”

CIFFC’s National Situation Report is published daily between May and August and provides information on fire activity from the previous calendar day, including seasonal cumulative.

As of Aug. 13, Canada has seen 4,626 fires, which have burned 8.9 million acres of land. This is significantly lower than 2023’s year-to-date totals at the same time; by Aug. 13, 2023, Canada had experienced 5,691 fires, which had burned 31.3 million acres.

In 2023, 6,551 fires burned 45.7 million acres of land. By comparison, 4,883 wildfires scorched 3.6 million acres in 2022. This means nearly 13 times more land was destroyed in 2023 than in 2022.

In Alberta, there are 116 active fires, including one carry-over fire from 2023. As of Aug. 13, 60 fires are under control, 45 are being held and 11 are out of control.  

In the “Wildfires of Note” from the Government of Alberta, there were two wildfires of note, meaning a wildfire that is highly visible or poses a potential threat to public safety, as of Aug. 13, 2024. They are known as the Semo Complex and the Jasper Complex.

The Jasper Complex Fire, the largest wildfire seen in Alberta’s Jasper National Park in more than a century, has consumed one-third of the popular tourist town of Jasper. It started on the evening of July 24, when tropical storm-force winds caused nearby fires to merge.

An estimated 30% of structures in the Jasper municipality were consumed by the fire. The town’s 5,000 permanent residents expect to be displaced for several months. As a tourist-based economy, many residents have lost both their jobs and their homes.

Per CBC News, “The flames in the town of Jasper are now extinguished, although the flames still burn out of control in the national park.”

British Columbia has 425 active fires as of Aug. 13, 2024. Of those, 173 are deemed ‘out of control.’ Since April 2024, BC has experienced 1,442 fires, which have burned 2.3 million acres. There are four “wildfires of note.”

Considered “out of control,” the rapidly spreading Shetland Creek Fire poses a threat to several communities, and evacuations have been ordered by local authorities, including several First Nations tribes in the impacted B.C. Interior region. As of Aug. 13, the fire had spread to 69,392 acres.

The Dogtooth Forest Service Road Fire, discovered on July 22, has spread to just over 14,000 acres but has already destroyed six homes in the small town of Golden. Some residents near the area remain under an evacuation order, while other previously evacuated zones have been allowed to return home.

The Komonko Creek Fire, first discovered July 19, has spread to almost 10,000 acres and threatens nearby structures, including residences, in the town of Silverton.

The Calcite Creek Fire, discovered July 18, is at 17,327 acres and threatens homes and structures in and near Okanagan-Similkameen; residents are under evacuation orders.

In 2023, wildfires burned a record amount of land (7.03 million acres) in the province, more than doubling the previous record set in 2018 (3.35 million acres). Over one-third of the Canadian fires in 2023 occurred in BC.

The largest-ever fire in British Columbia, the Donnie Creek Blaze, burned an area larger than Prince Edward Island. The fire burned on the traditional territory of the Blueberry River, Prophet River and Doig River First Nations and destroyed traplines, important ceremonial landmarks, massive amounts of timber, blueberries and other berries, and habitat for deer, bison and moose. This caused significant disruptions to Indigenous communities and the lumber and milling industries. The fire burned over 1.53 million acres.

In Canada’s far north, the NWT has reported a total of 167 fires in 2024 with 94 active fires and 86 fires out of control, as of Aug. 14. 

NWT has a population of only 45,000 people. Two-thirds of this northern, near-Arctic territory was displaced by wildfires at least once during the summer of 2023, including the territory’s capital city, Yellowknife, home to 20,000 people.

The province reported 29 fires burning 612,129.7 acres in 2024, as of Aug. 13, well above the ten-year average of 286,884 acres burned.

Local authorities lifted a ban on open fire in forested areas on Aug. 10.

Quebec experienced a record-breaking forest fire in 2023. More than 11 million acres burned, compared to the 10-year average of 39,051 acres. This represents almost one-quarter of the country’s land lost.

There have been 426 fires in the province this year, compared to the five-year average of 282.

As of Aug. 13, there are 83 active fires, with six of them not contained.

There are three “wildfires of note,” which have burned a total of 95,202 acres. On Aug. 13, the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation began evacuating its residents out of the community of Sandy Bay because of a wildfire within 20 km.

Fire season in Mexico is generally in February and peaks mid-March through May.

According to the June 14, 2024, North American Fire Outlook, above-normal precipitation decreased drought indices and drought-affected areas.

As of July 7, the most recently posted update, Mexico has recorded 7054 fires, burning over 942,243 hectares (2.3 million acres). Fire activity is fueled by dry conditions and high temperatures, which are exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon.

Previously, on March 27, four people were reported dead following a wave of wildfires, burning more than 32,000 acres. More than 6,000 forest firefighters were deployed. However, a shortage of firefighters in some areas caused locals to fight the fire themselves, and they were met with fire-friendly conditions such as strong winds.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: “Climate change, including increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States during the last two decades. Wildfires require the alignment of a number of factors, including temperature, humidity, and the lack of moisture in fuels, such as trees, shrubs, grasses, and forest debris. All these factors have strong direct or indirect ties to climate variability and climate change.”

The following images summarize the North American Seasonal Fire Assessment and Outlook, a collaborative effort between the U.S. National Interagency Fire Center, Natural Resources Canada and Servicio Meteorológico Nacional in Mexico. The document provides a general discussion and assessment of factors that affect the occurrence of wildfires in North America. The report is updated monthly with an assessment of recent fires and climate conditions and projections of future wildfire risks.

In the U.S., the National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook, the National Interagency Fire Center’s monthly report, details weather, drought conditions, past incidents and potential risks.

According to the Aug. 1 report, “Fire activity increased significantly across the western US in the first half of July and remained at extreme levels through the end of the month. […] The most significant increase in activity occurred in the Northwest Geographic Area which increased from Preparedness Level two to three July 10, to four July 16, and to five July 19.”

According to the Aug. 12, 2024 North American Fire Outlook, “British Columbia and southern Yukon, eastward through the Northwest Territories, and into northern Saskatchewan and extreme western Manitoba appear likely to have above normal fire activity in August. While dry conditions will cover other regions at times, occasional rainfall will likely help prevent sustained fire activity.”