Wildfires Across Alaska Top One Million Acres Burned | WPN World People News

Wildfire season in the United States is usually severe with most of the large fires tending to be in California, New Mexico, Arizona and other hot, dry western states. This year the state with the largest number of wildfires to date is not one of them. It's much farther north--in Alaska. The state is experiencing record heat this year, another direct effect from climate change. Record heat leads to a drier environment so that any spark can turn into an inferno in minutes. The amount of acreage burned in Alaska has already topped 1.28 million acres. At present over 120 fires are burning in Alaska with 22 being staffed and 93 others being monitored. The 22 staffed fires have burned 553,006 acres, which is more than the acreage burned by all other active wildfires in the country combined.

Another fact to note is the causes listed for these fires:
No Cause Entered: 10 fires; 3,953 acres
Human: 202 fires; 35,428 acres
Lightning: 187 fires; 1,243,609 acres
Total: 399 fires; 1,282,991 acres

Source: U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration