The fire triangle
Wildfires need three things: fuel (dry vegetation), ignition (lightning, human activity) and weather conditions (low humidity, high temperatures, wind) that allow fire to spread rapidly. Climate change is increasing the frequency of conditions that make fires severe: heat waves, drought and low humidity.
Why fires are getting worse
The combination of climate change and a century of fire suppression is making wildfires more dangerous. Active suppression of fires since the mid-20th century has allowed fuel loads — accumulated dead wood, dense undergrowth — to build up to levels that produce extremely intense fires when they eventually ignite.
What can be done
Prescribed burns — deliberately igniting fires in conditions where they can be safely managed — are the most effective tool for reducing fuel loads. Indigenous communities in Australia and North America have used fire management for thousands of years. Forest thinning and mechanical removal of dense undergrowth can also reduce fuel loads near communities, though these approaches are expensive and need regular repetition.