--- title: Why Major Wildfires Are More Common Than They Used to Be description: We'll explore how climate change and human factors are creating more wildfires and what local fire districts and agencies can do to combat the challenge. image: https://blog.aem.eco/hubfs/Blog%20Images/Featured%20Images/Why_Wildfires_are_More_Common_Blog_Featured.jpg --- [![AEM logo header](https://blog.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/AEM_RGB-Logo-Colour_RGB-Logo-Colour-Mar-30-2022-02-04-12-03-PM.png?width=196&name=AEM_RGB-Logo-Colour_RGB-Logo-Colour-Mar-30-2022-02-04-12-03-PM.png)AEM Logo Header](https://aem.eco/) - Solutions ### Solutions - #### Data & Software - #### [AEM Elements® 360](https://aem.eco/product/elements-360/) - #### [Sferic Maps®](https://aem.eco/product/sferic-maps/) - #### [Data and APIs](https://aem.eco/product-type/data-api/) - #### Hardware - #### [Systems](https://aem.eco/product-type/systems/) - #### [Sensors](https://aem.eco/product-type/sensors/) - #### [Data Collection](https://aem.eco/product-type/data-collection/) - #### [Cameras](https://aem.eco/product-type/cameras/) - #### [Alerting](https://aem.eco/product-type/alerting/) - #### [Telemetry](https://aem.eco/product-type/telemetry/) - #### [Accessories](https://aem.eco/product-type/accessories/) - #### Professional Services - #### [Meteorological Services](https://aem.eco/service/meteorological-services/) - #### [Hydromet Services](https://aem.eco/service/hydromet-services/) - #### [Network Design](https://aem.eco/service/network-design/) - #### [Field Services & Installation](https://aem.eco/service/field-services-installation/) - #### [Maintenance and Calibration](https://aem.eco/service/maintenance/) - #### [Training](https://aem.eco/service/training/) - #### Solutions - #### [Flood Risk Management](https://aem.eco/solution/flood-risk-management/) - #### [Severe Weather Risk Management](https://aem.eco/solution/severe-weather-risk-management/) - #### [Wildfire Risk Management](https://aem.eco/solution/wildfire-risk-management/) - #### [Precision Agriculture](https://aem.eco/solution/precision-agriculture/) - #### [Lightning Detection](https://aem.eco/solution/lightning-detection/) - #### [Dam Safety](https://aem.eco/solution/dam-safety/) - #### [Community Weather](https://aem.eco/solution/personal-weather/) #### AEM Elements® Resiliency Platform Your essential toolkit for weather forecasting, hazard detection, and emergency response coordination. 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[Become a Partner](https://aem.eco/partners/) - [Contact us](https://aem.eco/contact-us/) # Why Major Wildfires Are More Common Than They Used to Be [Wildfire Risk Management](https://blog.aem.eco/tag/wildfire-risk-management) By [Bill England](https://blog.aem.eco/author/bill-england) [Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://blog.aem.eco/why-wildfires-are-more-common-than-they-used-to-be) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.aem.eco/why-wildfires-are-more-common-than-they-used-to-be) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.aem.eco/why-wildfires-are-more-common-than-they-used-to-be) ![](https://blog.aem.eco/hubfs/Blog%20Images/Featured%20Images/Why_Wildfires_are_More_Common_Blog_Featured.jpg) Over the last five summers, wildfires in the American west and Australia have dominated the headlines. The increase in media coverage around fires has a lot of people asking, “Doesn’t it seem like there are far more wildfires than there used to be?” The short answer is “yes.” Major wildfires are growing in frequency and intensity while becoming more dangerous, expensive, and time-consuming to fight. Moving forward, we’ll explore… - [How climate change is creating bigger, more frequent wildfires](https://blog.aem.eco/why-wildfires-are-more-common-than-they-used-to-be#ClimateChannge) - [How suburbanization and other human factors are causing an increase in fires](https://blog.aem.eco/why-wildfires-are-more-common-than-they-used-to-be#Suburbanization) - [What local fire departments, districts, and agencies can do to combat the challenge of increasing wildfires](https://blog.aem.eco/why-wildfires-are-more-common-than-they-used-to-be#How-to) [![AEM's vision for wildfire readiness - see it now!](https://blog.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images%20and%20Videos/Promotional%20Banners/Wildfire-LP-Email-Video-template.gif?width=756&height=500&name=Wildfire-LP-Email-Video-template.gif)](https://aem.eco/wildfire-readiness-vision/) ## Climate Change Whether or not a fire can start and spread is highly dependent on climate, weather, and moisture conditions. As the world becomes [hotter, dryer, and more prone to large storm systems](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-07-17/heat-waves-sparked-by-climate-change-are-getting-worse-l5p9nd9z), fire risk naturally rises. ### Drought = dryer conditions [According to the U.S. Geological Survey](https://www.usgs.gov/science/science-explorer/climate/droughts-and-climate-change), climate change is making droughts across the United States more frequent, longer, and more severe. This has been [especially noticeable in the West](https://www.drought.gov/), particularly California and Texas. [![WildfireReport_PromoBanner1_Blog](https://blog.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images%20and%20Videos/Promotional%20Banners/WildfireReport_PromoBanner1_Blog.jpg?width=756&height=187&name=WildfireReport_PromoBanner1_Blog.jpg)](https://s39920.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/AEM_2024_Wildfire-Report.pdf) Fires require dry tinder to spread. When conditions are damp, fire safety professionals can easily contain and mitigate a fire before it gets out of hand. When the ground and surrounding vegetation are dried out, a fire can spread out of control quickly. Thanks to climate change, there are longer stretches of hot, dry days in many places, leading to increased fire danger, both in historically fire-prone areas and places where wildfires were previously less frequent. ### More lightning = more ignition sources Generally speaking, there is more lightning when temperatures are hot compared to when they are cold. According to [a study published in Science](https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.1259100), the number of lightning strikes is increasing 12% for every degree of rise in global air temperature. Lightning is [one of the main natural causes of wildfires](https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/statistics/lightning-caused), and fires started by lightning burn far more acreage on average than manmade fires. It stands to reason that, as lightning strikes continue to increase, so will wildfire rates and acres burned. ### Stronger winds = faster-spreading fires A lot of people hold the misconception that wind can “blow out” a fire like you might do to a candle, but much more frequently, winds help fires grow by fanning flames and carrying dangerous smoke in ways that make the fire harder to fight. ## [![Fire Weather Network Banner for Blog](https://blog.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/Fire%20Weather%20Network%20Banner%20for%20Blog.jpg?width=756&name=Fire%20Weather%20Network%20Banner%20for%20Blog.jpg)](https://aem.eco/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Wildfire-Weather-Network.pdf) Just a few decades ago, there was concern about a “global stilling” – the idea that winds were generally decreasing – but [since 2010, that trend has completely reversed](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-worlds-winds-are-speeding-up/), and winds across North America, Asia, and Europe have grown faster. In conjunction with more dry fuel, that means there’s the potential for fires to grow larger and faster than previously possible. ## Suburbanization Lightning may cause some wildfires, but in one way or another, [humans are responsible for 80-90% of all wildfires](https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/89757/people-cause-most-us-wildfires) that require response from professionals. As wildlands shrink and populations consolidate, people will start more fires, intentionally or not. ### Stretching the wildlife-urban interface As the population has grown and our communities have sprawled, people are increasingly living in areas that until very recently were inhabited exclusively by wildlife. Roughly [one in three Americans](https://www.deseret.com/2017/6/6/20613609/why-wildfires-are-hotter-and-longer-than-they-used-to-be) now lives in what is considered the “wildlife-urban interface” (WUI). [![Banner_3 (1)](https://blog.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/Banner_3%20(1).png?width=566&name=Banner_3%20(1).png)](https://aem.eco/event/2022-wildfire-webinar/) More people in the WUI means more opportunities for wildfires to be triggered by human factors like arson, smoking, fireworks, poorly attended campfires or trash burns, use of combustible fuels, and so on. ### Increased outdoor recreation During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people in urban and suburban areas turned to outdoor recreation activities such as hiking, jogging, cycling, birdwatching, fishing, and camping to replace indoor group activities. [Around 60% of those people](https://outdoorindustry.org/resource/2021-outdoor-participation-trends-report/#:~:text=The%202021%20Outdoor%20Participation%20Trends%20Report%2C%20commissioned%20by,recreation%20in%202020%20than%20in%20the%20year%20prior.) plan to continue those activities beyond the pandemic. ![VesuviusBlog](https://blog.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images%20and%20Videos/Promotional%20Banners/VesuviusBlog.jpg?width=756&height=187&name=VesuviusBlog.jpg) Unfortunately, more outdoor recreation means more potential wildfires, as people intentionally and unintentionally introduce a variety of ignition sources to the wild. ### More utility infrastructure under strain Since [the 2018 Camp Fire in California](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/15/officials-camp-fire-deadliest-in-california-history-was-caused-by-pge-electrical-transmission-lines.html), local governments and everyday people have placed increased scrutiny on the role power utilities play in increased fire risk. Electricity from a downed powerline or damaged generation equipment can start a fire just as easily as a lightning bolt. When wildfires interact with utility equipment, the results can be explosive. [![Banner_4](https://blog.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/Banner_4.jpg?width=756&name=Banner_4.jpg)](https://aem.eco/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/AEM-Wildfire-Station-Overview-for-Utilities_September-2021.pdf) At the same time, a great deal of utility infrastructure across the U.S. was designed to withstand the strain of last century’s climate, not our current situation. That means our power lines, high-tension towers, and generation equipment are aging out, in need of repair, and present an increased risk to start fires. When you look at suburbanization sending more people into the WUI, the increase in outdoor recreation, and our aging infrastructure, it can seem like an impossible “perfect storm” scenario for wildfire devastation. Luckily, local governments and fire safety professionals have some new tools at their disposal that they can use to combat wildfires. ## How to combat the rise in major wildfires Forestry management agencies, local fire departments, and utility companies are all doubling down on wildfire prevention, detection, and response in order to manage the increased risk of wildfire to the best of their abilities. Generally speaking, there are three pillars to [next-generation wildfire risk management](https://aem.eco/solution/wildfire-risk-management/): [![Wildfire Risk Mgmt Solutions banner for blog](https://blog.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/Wildfire%20Risk%20Mgmt%20Solutions%20banner%20for%20blog.jpg?width=756&name=Wildfire%20Risk%20Mgmt%20Solutions%20banner%20for%20blog.jpg)](https://aem.eco/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Wildfire_Solution-sheet_February-2022.pdf) 1. More proactive [fire weather monitoring](https://aem.eco/product-type/systems/) - Monitoring temperature and moisture levels is key to understanding when fire risk is highest and when proactive fire management steps are required 2. Live views of key areas using [fire watch cameras](https://aem.eco/product-type/cameras/) - Instead of relying on traditional fire watch towers, agencies can create real-time visual command centers that enable better ‘round-the-clock fire monitoring and detection than ever before 3. Better interagency [collaboration & communication](https://aem.eco/product-type/data-api/) - By sharing weather and wildfire data with each other, fire districts, departments, and response agencies can plan and execute a mitigation strategy in a faster, more informed way ## Talk to a wildfire monitoring expert If you're a fire district, government agency, or private business looking to improve your approach to wildfire risk management, monitoring, detection, and response, it's time to [sit down with AEM's dedicated team of wildfire experts](https://aem.eco/contact-us/). We can help you right-size a solution that connects your team with a toolkit of cutting-edge weather and fire monitoring technologies and provides you with the information you need to lead better than ever in the face of escalating fire risk. ![Bill England](https://blog.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images%20and%20Videos/SME%20and%20Author%20Portraits/Bill_England_Author_Portrait.jpg?width=150&name=Bill_England_Author_Portrait.jpg) #### Bill England [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/billengland) Bill England is currently the Director of Sales, North American Public Sector at AEM. Prior to this, they held the position of Director of Sales, State & Local Government and Canada at AEM. Before joining AEM, Bill worked at FTS Inc. as the Director of Sales, where they were responsible for multiple divisions including FTS, High Sierra Electronics, and OneRain. Bill England attended Simon Fraser University from 1997 to 2004, where they obtained a B.A.Sc. degree in Engineering. ### Related Blog Posts ### Subscribe for updates ![AEM Logo footer](https://blog.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/aem-logo.png?width=292&name=aem-logo.png "AEM Logo footer") AEM 12410 Milestone Center Drive Suite 300 Germantown, MD 20876 [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-environmental-monitoring) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Advanced-Environmental-Monitoring-AEM-110375228108391) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIEVCZ05K4xayt5yXed48AA) #### Data & Software - [AEM Elements® 360](https://aem.eco/product/elements-360/) - [Sferic Maps®](https://aem.eco/product/sferic-maps) - [Data and APIs](https://aem.eco/product-type/data-api/) #### Hardware - [Systems](https://aem.eco/product-type/systems/) - [Sensors](https://aem.eco/product-type/sensors/) - [Data Collection](https://aem.eco/product-type/data-collection/) - [Cameras](https://aem.eco/product-type/cameras/) - [Alerting](https://aem.eco/product-type/alerting/) - [Telemetry](https://aem.eco/product-type/telemetry/) - [Accessories](https://aem.eco/product-type/accessories/) #### Professional Services - [Meteorological Services](https://aem.eco/service/meteorological-services/) - [Hydromet Services](https://aem.eco/service/hydromet-services/) - [Network Design](https://aem.eco/service/network-design/) - [Field Services & Installation](https://aem.eco/service/field-services-installation/) - [Maintenance and Calibration](https://aem.eco/service/maintenance/) - [Training](https://aem.eco/service/training/) #### Solutions - [Flood Risk Management](https://aem.eco/solution/flood-risk-management/) - [Severe Weather Risk Management](https://aem.eco/solution/severe-weather-risk-management/) - [Wildfire Risk Management](https://aem.eco/solution/wildfire-risk-management/) - [Precision Agriculture](https://aem.eco/solution/precision-agriculture/) - [Lightning Detection](https://aem.eco/solution/lightning-detection/) - [Dam Safety](https://aem.eco/solution/dam-safety/) - [Community Weather](https://aem.eco/solution/personal-weather/) #### Industries - [Agriculture](https://aem.eco/industry/agriculture/) - [Aviation](https://aem.eco/industry/aviation/) - [Club & Sport](https://aem.eco/industry/club-sport/) - [Construction](https://aem.eco/industry/construction-engineering/) - [Education](https://aem.eco/industry/education/) - [Energy Utilities](https://aem.eco/industry/energy-utility/) - [National Governments](https://aem.eco/industry/government/) - [Ground Transportation](https://aem.eco/industry/ground-transportation/) - [Manufacturing](https://aem.eco/industry/manufacturing/) - [Maritime](https://aem.eco/industry/maritime/) - [Military](https://aem.eco/industry/military/) - [Mining](https://aem.eco/industry/mining/) - [Renewable Energy](https://aem.eco/industry/renewable-energy/) - [States & Municipalities](https://aem.eco/industry/states-municipalities/) - [Water Utilities](https://aem.eco/industry/water-utility/) #### Resources & Insights - [Blog](https://blog.aem.eco/) - [Case Studies](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=case-study) - [Demos](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=demo) - [Podcast](https://www.youtube.com/@AEM_eco/podcasts) - [Product & Data Sheets](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=data-sheet) - [Reports & Guides](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=report) - [Solution Guides](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=solution-guide) - [Solution Overviews](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=solution-overview) - [Webinars](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=webinar) #### Company - [About Us](https://aem.eco/about-us/) - [Our Offices](https://aem.eco/our-offices/) - [Brands](https://aem.eco/our-brands/) - [Partners](https://aem.eco/partners/) - [Careers](https://aem.eco/careers/) - [In the News](https://aem.eco/press-center/) Copyright © 2026 AEM [Privacy Policy](https://aem.eco/privacy-policy) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=37371&fmt=gif)