The North American wildfire season typically runs from spring to fall, although it varies by region, as evidenced by the January wildfires in California.
However, as the effects of climate change increase, disasters continue to shirk the expected seasonal rules, occurring with ever-increasing frequency and intensity.
CDP’s North American wildfire profile runs by calendar year and typically covers wildfires in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Depending on size and severity, wildfires in other countries in North America will be included.
Our coverage focuses on fires that significantly impact communities, especially at-risk populations.
According to National Interagency Fire Center statistics, as of April 11, 17,400 wildfires had burned 822,951 acres across the U.S. This is much higher than average.
As of April 4, the current Preparedness Level dropped to Level 1, meaning local or state resources can manage fires without national assistance. Earlier in April, the country was at Level 2, which means national support was required to meet objectives (extinguishing or controlling the fire). Including 2025, three of the past five years have seen Level 2 in April.
The National Significant Wildland Fire Prediction Outlook for April to July says that 45% of the country is in drought conditions, making the country ripe for fires. There is an enhanced risk for fires in all areas hit by Hurricane Helene, stretching from northern Florida into the Appalachians.
Key facts
- By 2052, half of the people at risk of wildfire will live in the U.S. 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 that carry charred vegetation and other items picked up by rushing water.
- One study found that Native Americans living in tribal communities in the U.S. received 23% less precipitation compared to historical data, with 36.3% of tribal lands at risk of drought.
- People cause about 85% of U.S. wildfires.
- Wildfires exacerbate existing affordable housing crises throughout North America.
- Overnight fires have emerged in North America, challenging the traditional understanding of the “active day, quiet night” model of current fire management practices, which say cooler temperatures and higher humidity at night help slow the growth of wildfires. A 2024 study in Nature found that drought conditions promote overnight burning, a key mechanism that drives large active fires.
(Photo from County of Los Angeles Fire Department via X)
Latest Updates
What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, February 3
What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, January 27
What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, January 21
What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, January 13
Beyond the flames: Addressing the ripple effects of California’s wildfires
Texas and Oklahoma – March 2025
A strong weather system that began with an atmospheric river in California on March 13 and spread across the Southern U.S. caused tornadoes, dust storms and wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma. For more information on the overall system, see the U.S. Tornadoes and Severe Storms disaster profile.
Oklahoma
While Oklahoma saw a massive fire outbreak in mid-March, only a few small wildfires were burning in Oklahoma as of April 11.
During the March 14 outbreak, 150 fires and 170,000 acres burned in about 24 hours. The Stillwater fire destroyed 96 homes in the town of Stillwater, including Governor Kevin Stitt’s farmhouse. An additional 74 campers were destroyed at Lake Carl Blackwell. There were 170 structures lost in Payne County. The 33 Road Fire, which also started March 14, burned at least 49 homes in Logan County. By March 17, four deaths and 200 injuries had been confirmed in the state.
Texas
More than 55 fires have burned across the state since March 14. Only one small fire, which is 85% contained, is burning now, but nearly 70,000 acres have burned in total.
The fires in Texas led to road closures and power outages, but very little damage was reported.
Florida – March 2025
As of April 11, more than a dozen small fires (all under 45 acres) were burning in Florida. The state’s biggest fire of the year, The 344 Fire, burned 27,000 acres over two weeks and blocked access to the Florida Keys before being controlled on March 23.
California – January 2025
As of April 11, there have been 653 wildfires in California, burning a total of 59,861 acres. At least 16,251 structures have been destroyed, and 30 people have been killed.
There are no incidents of concern in California at this time. Earlier this year, California was struck by massive, fast-moving fires triggered by the Santa Ana winds, drought conditions and warmer-than-typical temperatures. The worst of the January 2025 fires were:
- The Palisades Fire (23,707 acres) is the third-most destructive wildfire in California’s history.
- The Eaton Fire (14,021 acres) is the second-most destructive and the fifth-deadliest wildfire in California’s history.
- The Hughes Fire (10,425 acres).
You can support CDP’s response to wildfires in the state by donating to our California Wildfires Recovery Fund.
Several areas of support are needed for fire recovery. These include rebuilding homes or repairing damage, soil remediation, temporary housing, physical and mental health, assistance for survivors in navigating disaster recovery resources, community and economic development, agricultural support and livelihood/income support.
Help marginalized communities
People in marginalized and at-risk situations before a disaster – older adults, undocumented and mixed-status families, people living with physical or mental health challenges, and people living in poverty – may find their circumstances worsened in the face of disaster and continue to face challenges during the recovery phase. Local organizations are well-informed about a community’s needs and culture; they may be familiar with impacted individuals and will be on the ground for years.
Racialized and other marginalized communities recover slower after a disaster than other communities due to systemic inequalities. Relative to the U.S. population at large, Latinos are two times more likely to live in wildfire-prone areas.
Address mental health needs
Mental health is always a significant issue following fires, especially fires that cause loss of life or mass destruction or occur in communities previously affected by wildfires. Funders can support organizations providing both crisis and long-term mental health services. Some ethnic or religious communities need culturally competent and supportive services.
Housing and insurance
Many communities across North America have both a housing shortage and a housing affordability crisis. For example, in Los Angeles, hit hard by the Palisades fire in January 2025, as of June 2024, there was only a 4% vacancy rate overall and apartment rents revealed “a median rent of $1,868 for a 1-bedroom apartment and $2,383 for a 2-bedroom,” according to Apartment List’s May 2024 Rent Report.
Similarly, the median sale price for single-family condos and homes was $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2024. Rental prices are estimated to rise anywhere from 8-12% to even double or triple current rates, despite restrictions by the government.
Soil remediation after a fire can take several months or even years, meaning residents who lost their homes must rent or buy while waiting for permission to rebuild.
As speakers described in CDP’s 2024 webinar “Insurance and Mother Nature,” communities around the country are dealing with insurance companies pulling out or no longer writing home insurance policies in areas that are at risk for floods, hurricanes and wildfires.
CDP has a California Wildfire Recovery Fund that supports the needs of marginalized and at-risk residents of California after fires. Our Disaster Recovery Fund supports wildfire-affected areas in the remainder of the United States and in Canada. Our Global Recovery Fund supports Mexico and other countries in North America.
Contact CDP
Philanthropic contributions
If you would like to make a gift to our California Wildfires Recovery Fund, Hawaii Wildfires Recovery Fund, Disaster Recovery Fund or Global Recovery Fund, need help with your disaster-giving strategy, or want to share how you’re responding to this disaster, please contact our development team.
(Photo: By Jessie Rodriguez via Jessie.Shoots on Instagram)
Recovery updates
If you are a responding NGO, please send updates on how you are working on recovery from this disaster to tanya.gulliver-garcia@disasterphilanthropy.org.
Note: If you are an individual who was affected by the disaster, we encourage you to contact your LA211 to see what resources are available in your community.
CDP grantee partners
You can learn about previous recipients of grants from CDP’s California Wildfire Recovery Fund here.
Resources
Wildfires
Weather can significantly affect the frequency and severity of wildfires. Prolonged drought can extend prime wildfire season, making blazes more likely. Additionally, high temperatures and low humidity can quickly dry out vegetation which then becomes potential fuel.
Drought
Drought is often defined as an unusual period of drier than normal weather that leads to a water shortage. Drought causes more deaths and displaces more people than any other disaster.
Extreme Heat
While the average temperature continues to increase at a moderate pace, climate change has caused more frequent extreme weather events, particularly extreme heat.