History of Wildfire in Timeline

Wildfires are unplanned, uncontrolled fires in combustible vegetation, also known as forest fires or bushfires. These fires can be categorized based on vegetation type (e.g., bushfire, grass fire). While destructive, some ecosystems depend on wildfires for natural cycles. Modern forest management uses prescribed burns to reduce fire risk and promote forest health. However, controlled burns sometimes inadvertently become wildfires.

1937: Initiation of Fire Prevention Campaign

In 1937, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated a nationwide fire prevention campaign, highlighting the role of human carelessness in forest fires.

1949: Mann Gulch Fire Resulted in Multiple Smokejumper Deaths

During the 1949 Mann Gulch fire in Montana, United States, thirteen smokejumpers died when they lost their communication links, became disoriented, and were overtaken by the fire.

1950: Increase in Hot Days in Australia

Since 1950, the annual number of hot days (above 35 °C or 95 °F) and very hot days (above 40 °C or 104 °F) has increased significantly in many areas of Australia.

1974: Australia Suffered its Worst Recorded Wildfire

In the summer of 1974 (southern hemisphere), Australia suffered its worst recorded wildfire, when 15% of Australia's land mass suffered "extensive fire damage".

1975: Australia Suffered its Worst Recorded Wildfire

In the summer of 1975 (southern hemisphere), Australia suffered its worst recorded wildfire, when 15% of Australia's land mass suffered "extensive fire damage". Fires that summer burned up an estimated 117 million hectares.

1988: Data Station Established in West Yellowstone During Yellowstone Fires

During the Yellowstone fires of 1988, a data station was established in West Yellowstone, permitting the delivery of satellite-based fire information in approximately four hours.

1990: Study Tracking Wildfire Firefighter Deaths

A recent study tracking the number and cause of wildfire firefighter deaths from 1990 to 2006 found that 21.9% of the deaths occurred from heart attacks.

1997: Forest Fires in Indonesia Released Significant Amount of CO2

In 1997, forest fires in Indonesia were estimated to have released between 0.81 and 2.57 gigatonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, which is between 13–40% of the annual global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels.

1998: Decrease in Fires

According to a paper published in the journal Science, the number of natural and human-caused fires decreased between 1998 and 2015.

2000: Wildland Firefighter Deaths

Between 2000 and 2016, more than 350 wildland firefighters died on-duty.

2001: Wildland Firefighter Fatalities

Between 2001 and 2012, over 200 fatalities occurred among wildland firefighters.

June 2002: Increase in Respiratory Symptoms Due to Hayman Fire

In June 2002, an increase in PM smoke emitted from the Hayman fire in Colorado was associated with an increase in respiratory symptoms in patients with COPD.

2003: Wildfire Exposes Archaeological Remains in North Yorkshire Moors

A 2003 wildfire in the North Yorkshire Moors burned off 2.5 square kilometers of heather and the underlying peat layers, revealing archaeological remains dating to 10,000 BC.

2003: Increase in Hospital Admissions Due to Wildfires in Southern California

In 2003, investigations of wildfires in Southern California showed an increase in hospital admissions due to asthma symptoms while being exposed to peak concentrations of PM in smoke.

2004: Estimated Exposure to Wildfire Smoke

In 2004, it was estimated that 46 million people were exposed to wildfire smoke in the Western US.

2004: US Spent Billions on Wildfire Suppression

In the United States, it was reported that approximately $6 billion was spent between 2004 and 2008 to suppress wildfires in the country.

2006: Study Tracking Wildfire Firefighter Deaths

A recent study tracking the number and cause of wildfire firefighter deaths from 1990 to 2006 found that 21.9% of the deaths occurred from heart attacks.

2007: Increased Healthcare Utilization After San Diego Wildfires

An observational study of smoke exposure related to the 2007 San Diego wildfires revealed an increase both in healthcare utilization and respiratory diagnoses, especially asthma among the group sampled.

2007: High Levels of Heavy Metals Found After Californian Wildfires

High levels of heavy metals, including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and copper were found in the ash debris following the 2007 Californian wildfires.

2007: Research Shows Black Carbon in Snow Impacts Temperature

Research in 2007 stated that black carbon in snow changed temperature three times more than atmospheric carbon dioxide, and it may cause up to 94 percent of Arctic warming.

2008: US Spent Billions on Wildfire Suppression

In the United States, it was reported that approximately $6 billion was spent between 2004 and 2008 to suppress wildfires in the country.

February 2009: Victorian Bushfires Result in Fatalities and Structural Losses

In the Australian February 2009 Victorian bushfires, at least 173 people died and over 2,029 homes and 3,500 structures were lost when they became engulfed by wildfire.

2009: Estimated Exposure to Wildfire Smoke

By 2009, an estimated 46 million people had been exposed to wildfire smoke from 2004 to 2009 in the Western US, with evidence suggesting this smoke increases airborne particulate levels.

2012: Wildland Firefighter Fatalities

Between 2001 and 2012, over 200 fatalities occurred among wildland firefighters. In addition to heat and chemical hazards, firefighters are also at risk for electrocution from power lines; injuries from equipment; slips, trips, and falls; injuries from vehicle rollovers; heat-related illness; insect bites and stings; stress; and rhabdomyolysis.

2014: International Campaign Validates Fire Detection Products in Kruger National Park

In 2014, an international campaign was organized in South Africa's Kruger National Park to validate fire detection products including the new VIIRS active fire data.

2015: Decrease in Fires

According to a paper published in the journal Science, the number of natural and human-caused fires decreased by 24.3% between 1998 and 2015. Researchers explain this as a transition from nomadism to settled lifestyle and intensification of agriculture that lead to a drop in the use of fire for land clearing.

2015: New Fire Detection Tool in Operation at USDA Forest Service

In 2015 a new fire detection tool is in operation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) which uses data from the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite to detect smaller fires in more detail than previous space-based products. The high-resolution data is used with a computer model to predict how a fire will change direction based on weather and land conditions.

2016: Wildland Firefighter Deaths

Between 2000 and 2016, more than 350 wildland firefighters died on-duty.

2017: Discovery of Hazardous Waste Chemical Contamination in Water Systems

In 2017, hazardous waste scale chemical contamination of buried water systems was first discovered in the U.S.

2018: Proposed Source of Contamination After the Camp Fire

After the 2018 Camp Fire in California, the source of water contamination was proposed to originate from thermally degraded plastics in water systems, smoke and vapors entering depressurized plumbing, and contaminated water in buildings being sucked into the municipal water system.

2018: Camp Fire Damage in Paradise, California

In 2018, the Camp Fire caused more than $150 million dollars worth of damage in Paradise, California. This required almost a year of time to decontaminate and repair the municipal drinking water system from wildfire damage.

2018: Elevated Lead Levels After California Camp Fire

In the devastating California Camp Fire in 2018 that killed 85 people, lead levels increased by around 50 times in the hours following the fire at a site nearby (Chico).

July 2019: Arctic Fires Emitted Over 140 Megatons of Carbon Dioxide

In July 2019, fires in the Arctic emitted more than 140 megatons of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to the amount of carbon emitted by 36 million cars in a year.

2019: Study Indicates Human-Induced Climate Change Increasing Fire Risk in California

A 2019 study indicated that the increase in fire risk in California may be partially attributable to human-induced climate change.

2019: Destruction of the Amazon Adds Carbon to Atmosphere

As of 2019, the earth's atmosphere has 415 parts per million of carbon, and the destruction of the Amazon would add about 38 parts per million.

2019: Wildfires Worse Than Previous Year

As of August 2020, the wildfires in that year were 13% worse than in 2019 due primarily to climate change, deforestation and agricultural burning.

2019: Online Bots and Trolls Exaggerating Arson in Australian Bushfires

In 2019, during the Australian bushfire season, an independent study found online bots and trolls were exaggerating the role of arson in the fires.

2019: Massive Wildfires Caused by Extreme Heat and Dryness

In 2019, extreme heat and dryness caused massive wildfires in Siberia, Alaska, Canary Islands, Australia, and in the Amazon rainforest. The fires in the Amazon were mainly caused by illegal logging.

2019: Catastrophic Bushfire Conditions Declared for Greater Sydney

In 2019, the extent and ferocity of bushfires in Australia increased dramatically, and for the first time, catastrophic bushfire conditions were declared for Greater Sydney.

August 2020: Global Carbon Emissions from Wildfires Equal Average Annual Emissions of the European Union

Global carbon emissions from wildfires through August 2020 equaled the average annual emissions of the European Union.

2020: Development of Guidance on Inspecting Wildfire Impacted Wells

In 2020, evidence-based guidance on how to inspect and test wildfire impacted wells and building water systems was developed for the first time.

2020: Thermal Degradation of Plastic as Contamination Source

In 2020, it was first shown that thermal degradation of plastic drinking water materials was one potential contamination source of water systems after a wildfire.

2021: Adaptation of Post-Fire Public Safety Investigation Approaches in British Columbia

In 2021, Canadian authorities adapted their post-fire public safety investigation approaches in British Columbia to screen for the risk of chemically contaminated drinking water.

2021: Record-Breaking Wildfires Linked to Climate Change

Record-breaking wildfires occurred in 2021 in Turkey, Greece and Russia, thought to be linked to climate change.

2021: NASA Provides Active Fire Locations in Near Real-Time via FIRMS

Since 2021, NASA has provided active fire locations in near real-time via the Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS).

2023: No Discovery of Hazardous Waste Chemical Contamination in Water Systems in British Columbia

As of 2023, Canadian authorities had not found chemically contaminated drinking water in British Columbia while adapting their post-fire public safety investigation approaches.

2023: False Arson Claims in Canadian Wildfires

In 2023, during the Canadian wildfires, false claims of arson gained traction on social media. However, arson is generally not a main cause of wildfires in Canada.

2023: Confirmation of Contamination Being Sucked Into Pipes

In 2023, the theory where contamination could be sucked into pipes that lost water pressure was confirmed.

2030: Amazon Rainforest Could Be Severely Damaged

Fires in the Amazon rainforest, along with drought and human involvement, could damage or destroy more than half of the Amazon rainforest by 2030.

2050: Projected Increase in Wildfire-Related Deaths and Economic Costs

By 2050, the health effects of wildfire smoke are expected to contribute to nearly 30,000 annual deaths, and the economic impact is projected to reach $240 billion annually.