Wildfires seem to be everywhere. Earlier this year, the fires in Los Angeles caused billions of dollars in property damage and displaced over 100,000 people. In June, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, there were active fires in 11 U.S. states and in virtually every province in Canada. Minnesota had three wildfires which burned nearly 20,000 acres of northeastern Minnesota in May, according to MPR. So, what factors are contributing to the frequency and intensity of wildfires that we are seeing? How can wildfires be better prevented or controlled, and what are the long term impacts on communities and ecosystems?
