Pacific Northwest Endures Record-Breaking Fire Season Fueled by Drought and Heat

Scientists attribute the lengthening and intensifying wildfire season across the western United States to a combination of drought, soaring temperatures and a shifting climate. Paul Hessburg, a former senior research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service and current professor at the University of Washington, notes that modern communities are ill-prepared for such conditions. He contrasts historic Indigenous fire-management practices with today’s problematic factors, including accidental ignitions, dense forests and unsuitable ground fuels. The region’s fire-prone environment is worsening as climate trends accelerate.