Countries that are devasted with wildfires this month

In a month marked by scorching temperatures and extreme weather events, several nations around the globe find themselves grappling with a relentless and destructive force: wildfires.

From the billowing smoke that taints the skies to the fierce flames that consume vast landscapes, wildfires have cast a dire shadow over both nature and civilization.

As August unfolds, let us delve into the unfolding story of countries that this formidable crisis has gripped, underscoring the urgent need for collective action in the face of a changing climate.

United States

The National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group elevated the National Preparedness Level to Level 4, indicative of a critical situation.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center's records as of August 21, 2023, a total of 36,275 fires have scorched 1.76 million acres this year. This figure stands significantly lower than the 10-year average spanning 2013 to 2022, which witnessed 38,494 fires and an average acreage of 4.65 million acres.

Currently, a staggering 98 large wildfires are ablaze, engulfing slightly over 650,000 acres across 15 states. This unfolding scenario underscores the pressing need for vigilant wildfire management strategies across the nation.

Canada

As of June 27, Canada broke a record set back in 1989 for the largest area burned in a single wildfire season. Unusually high temperatures are affecting even the colder northern regions.

Currently, the CIFFC (Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre) remains at Preparedness Level 5, the highest, due to ongoing hot and dry weather conditions leading to intense fire activity across different parts of Canada.

As of August 21, 2023, the CIFFC reported 5,824 fires this year, scorching 37.8 million acres. There are 1,041 active fires, with 656 out of control, 159 contained, and 226 under control. This year's burned area is around 4% of Canada's forests, which is more than double the usual annual deforestation loss of 7 million hectares worldwide.

The fire has covered about 1.4 million acres or 2,200 square miles.

British Columbia

In 2023, British Columbia has faced 1,874 wildfires, with 378 still burning as of August 22. Out of these, 155 are out of control, and a majority, 317, were ignited by lightning. Notably, there were 14 significant fires, meaning they posed visible risks or threats to public safety.

Wildfires have already consumed a record-breaking amount of land, reaching 4.3 million acres, surpassing the previous record set in 2018 at 3.35 million acres.

Kelowna, a popular tourist spot located about 180 miles east of Vancouver, was heavily affected. As of August 21, at least 35,000 people were under evacuation orders, and another 30,000 were on evacuation alerts.

Greece 

As of August 24, there are ongoing wildfires in Greece, particularly affecting areas like Alexandroupolis, Dadia, and Rodopi Municipalities in East Macedonia, Fyli Municipality in northeastern Attica (Central Greece), Viotia (Central Greece), and Evia Island. A total of 99 forest fires have occurred, with 55 happening in the last 24 hours.

Italy

On July 26, firefighters worked on fires in the South while a storm hit the North. In the past 3 days, they dealt with 1,938 wildfires: 710 in Sicily, 407 in Calabria, 281 in Sardinia, and 540 in Apulia. Around 6,000 people and nearly 1,500 vehicles, including 14 Canadair planes and 2 Erickson S64 helicopters, were used. For the storm in Lombardy, 2,077 interventions involved 2,900 people and 500 vehicles.

Legambiente used satellite data from EFFIS (European Forest Fire Information System) to find that fires larger than 30 hectares destroyed a lot of land: 41,365 hectares in Sicily, 7,390 hectares in Calabria, 1,456 hectares in Apulia, and 284 hectares in Abruzzo. From July 25 to 27, 31,078 hectares of vegetation burned.

Spain

On August 15, 2023, a big fire started on Tenerife Island in Spain's Canary Islands. The fire spread quickly because of strong wind, heat, and low humidity. Many people had to leave their homes, and the fire damaged plants and animals. It also caused problems with electricity and water in some areas.

In just three days, the fire became very intense and destructive. This is the worst fire in the Canary Islands in 40 years and the worst one in Spain in 2023.

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