Wildfire facts
The frequency and intensity of
extreme wildfires has more than
doubled in the last two decades,
according to a 2024 study.¹
1 minutes read
Published 2024/08/23
![Wildfire Wildfire](/content/dam/munichre/mram/images/Wildfire-Info_Insights-WEB-Header-Final.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/original.image_file.2560.853.0,462,2560,1315.file/Wildfire-Info_Insights-WEB-Header-Final.jpg)
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Definition
forests, grasslands, or prairies.
![Wild fire approaching homes in California Wild fire approaching homes in California](/content/dam/munichre/global/images/royalty-free/GettyImages-96470877.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/original.image_file.3456.1944.0,180,3456,2124.file/GettyImages-96470877.jpg)
Drivers of wildfire losses
Changing climate
Rising emissions and global warming can cause increased heat and extended drought.
Human activity
This includes carelessness with campfires, improperly discarded cigarettes, fireworks, arson, and problems with power transmission.
Land-cover changes
Communities spread and develop into
areas with higher fire risk.
areas with higher fire risk.
Wildfire losses in the US
>1/3
Of the US population lives in counties with high wildfire risk²
$1.3tn
Value of homes at risk for wildfires estimated by US Fire Administration in 2023
7.6m
Acres burned in the US in 2022³
Five ways businessowners and homeowners can reduce wildfire risk
![Create defensible space around buildings. Create defensible space around buildings.](/content/dam/munichre/mram/content-pieces/infographics/5-Ways-Component-icons-16-9-Defensive.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/original./5-Ways-Component-icons-16-9-Defensive.jpg)
![Construct buildings with fire resistant materials, seal any gaps and cover vents with metal wire mesh. Construct buildings with fire resistant materials, seal any gaps and cover vents with metal wire mesh.](/content/dam/munichre/mram/content-pieces/infographics/5-Ways-Component-icons-16-9-Construct.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/original./5-Ways-Component-icons-16-9-Construct.jpg)
![Design landscaping to use fewer flammable species. Design landscaping to use fewer flammable species.](/content/dam/munichre/mram/content-pieces/infographics/5-Ways-Component-icons-16-9-Landscaping.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/original./5-Ways-Component-icons-16-9-Landscaping.jpg)
![Regularly clean debris from gutters, roof and around the property. Regularly clean debris from gutters, roof and around the property.](/content/dam/munichre/mram/content-pieces/infographics/5-Ways-Component-icons-16-9-Gutters.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/original./5-Ways-Component-icons-16-9-Gutters.jpg)
![Make sure street signs and address numbers are highly visible to help emergency responders quickly find property. Make sure street signs and address numbers are highly visible to help emergency responders quickly find property.](/content/dam/munichre/mram/content-pieces/infographics/5-Ways-Component-icons-16-9-Street-Signs.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/original./5-Ways-Component-icons-16-9-Street-Signs.jpg)
Top 5 states for wildfires ranked by number of fires (2022)4
![Texas Texas](/content/dam/munichre/mram/content-pieces/infographics/States-fires-Texas.png/_jcr_content/renditions/original./States-fires-Texas.png)
![California California](/content/dam/munichre/mram/content-pieces/infographics/States-fires-California.png/_jcr_content/renditions/original./States-fires-California.png)
![North Carolina North Carolina](/content/dam/munichre/mram/content-pieces/infographics/States-fires-NorthCarolina.png/_jcr_content/renditions/original./States-fires-NorthCarolina.png)
![Georgia Georgia](/content/dam/munichre/mram/content-pieces/infographics/States-fires-Georgia.png/_jcr_content/renditions/original./States-fires-Georgia.png)
![Oklahoma Oklahoma](/content/dam/munichre/mram/content-pieces/infographics/States-fires-Oklahoma.png/_jcr_content/renditions/original./States-fires-Oklahoma.png)
1Cunningham, C.X., Williamson, G.J. & Bowman, D.M.J.S. (2024). Increasing frequency and intensity of the most extreme wildfires on Earth. Nat Ecol Evol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02452-2
2USDA. 2024. Updates to wildfirerisk.org identify communities with increased risk and provide resources to mitigate wildfire. May 29. https://wildfirerisk.org/about/news/
3National Interagency Fire Center. (2024). Wildfires and acres statistics.
https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/statistics/wildfires
4Triple-III. (2023). Facts + statistics: Wildfires.
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-wildfires
1
Munich Re US expert
![Jay Rosario Jay Rosario](/content/dam/munichre/contentlounge/website-pieces/experts/Jay-Rosario.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/original./Jay-Rosario.jpg)
Jay Rosario
Head of Digital Solutions
Munich Re US wildfire solutions
![wildfire wildfire](/content/dam/munichre/mrm/royalty-free-ppt-only/GettyImages-157484380.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cropped.2_to_1.jpg.image_file.2560.1280.file/cropped.2_to_1.jpg)