"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
First, the good news: A new analysis of global wildfire activity in 2025 shows that the year had the second-lowest area burned since 2002.
But at the same time, the study also revealed that the world experienced some of the most destructive and deadly fire events in recent history, including the catastrophic Los Angeles fires of January 2025 that killed dozens and burned over 12,000 homes.
The study, published on May 31, highlights an ongoing trend toward wildfires becoming increasingly extreme, costly, and disastrous — both economically and in lives lost."
Doyle Rice reports for USA TODAY May 31, 2026.
SEE ALSO:
"2025 Wildfires Were the Costliest Ever, Researchers Say" (New York Times)
"Wildfire Season Returns To Canada's Oil Sands" (Reuters)
North American Fire Map (NASA/USFS)
"Maps: Tracking Air Quality and Smoke From Wildfires in Canada and the U.S." (New York Times)
