Global fire outbreaks hit record levels this year as climate change intensifies heat, drought, and extreme fire conditions across Africa, Asia, and other regions. Scientists from World Weather Attribution have warned that fires from January to April have already burned more than 150 million hectares of land, about 20% higher than the previous record.

The warning comes before the northern hemisphere’s main summer fire season has fully developed. Researchers say the combination of human-driven climate change and a potentially strong El Niño could make this a particularly severe year for wildfires. El Niño conditions, linked to warming sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, are expected to increase the risk of severe heat and drought in parts of Australia, Indonesia, southern Asia, and other regions.

What Is Driving the Fire Surge?

• Climate change is raising risk: Higher global temperatures are making landscapes hotter and drier, increasing the chances of extreme fire behaviour.
• Africa has seen a sharp jump: As much as 85 million hectares have burned in Africa so far, driven partly by rapid shifts from very wet to very dry conditions.
• Extra grass became fuel: Heavy rainfall during the previous growing season produced more grass, which later dried out and fed large savannah fires.
• Asia is also badly hit: Fires have burned up to 44 million hectares across Asia, with India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and China among the affected countries.
• El Niño may worsen conditions: Scientists warn that a strong El Niño could increase heat and drought risks later this year, especially in Australia, Canada, the United States, and the Amazon rainforest.

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Why Scientists Are Concerned

Theodore Keeping, a wildfire expert at Imperial College London and part of the World Weather Attribution group, said the global fire season has started unusually fast. He warned that the rapid start, combined with the forecast El Niño, points toward a “particularly severe year” for wildfires.

Friederike Otto, climate scientist at Imperial College London and co-founder of World Weather Attribution, also warned that if a strong El Niño develops, the combined impact of climate change and El Niño could result in unprecedented weather extremes.

Bigger Climate Warning

Recent wildfire research has repeatedly linked worsening fires to climate change. The State of Wildfires project has found that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme wildfires globally, while major fire events are becoming more damaging as heat, drought, and dry vegetation combine.

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Final Takeaway

Global fire outbreaks hit record levels before the peak fire season has even begun in many regions. With more than 150 million hectares already burned, scientists are warning that climate change, drought, and El Niño could create one of the most dangerous wildfire years in recent history.

Key Fire Outbreak Statistics

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