is expected to get hotter and drier with climate change, wildfire risk is generally expected to rise. history burned more than 10 million acres of land.īecause much of the U.S. In 2015, the largest wildfire season recorded in U.S. land each year since 2000, double the number of acres scorched by wildfires in the 1990s. An average of 72,400 wildfires cleared an average of 7 million acres of U.S. These rolling flames travel up to 14 miles an hour, which converts to about a four-minute-mile pace, and can overtake the average human in minutes.ĭestruction caused by wildfires in the United States has significantly increased in the last two decades. Wildfires can burn millions of acres of land at shockingly fast speeds, consuming everything in their paths. Hawaii is not historically known for wildfires, but-like many parts of the world-is seeing more intense fires because of climate change and mismanaged land. Some experts have also said invasive grasses not native to the island created more flammable conditions that fed the fire's flames. The fires that burned through the island were worsened by intense winds from a nearby hurricane and drought conditions. In the wake of Maui's deadly wildfires-where many died, and a historic town once known as the capital of Hawaii's monarchy was destroyed-residents and tourists are reeling from the damage.
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