Another tragic and destructive year for wildfires — is this the new normal? | CBC Radio
Extreme wildfire was a global story in 2019 as wildfires around the world were dialed up in intensity and impact.
“The
warmer we get, the more fires we see; and the more intense the fire,
the more difficult to impossible it is to put the fire out,” said Mike Flannigan, a professor of wildland fire at the University of Alberta.
One of the hardest hit areas this year was Australia, which has been experiencing record breaking heat.
“They
don’t normally see this much fire or this intense fire. The warmer it
gets, the better the atmosphere gets at sucking the moisture out of the
fuel so it’s easier for the fire to start and spread,” he explained. “It
also means there’s more fuel to burn, which means fire management
activities can’t put that fire out.”