List of largest fires of the 21st century
A wildfire, or bushfire, is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of combustible vegetation. Fires can burn for days, weeks or even months on end, causing extensive loss of vegetation, property and life.
Largest fires of the 21st-century
Rank | Name | Country | Area burned (km2) | Fatalities | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2003 Russian wildfires | Russia | 200,000 | 0 | [1] |
2 | 2019-2020 Australian bushfire season | Australia | 180,000 | 33 | [2][3] |
3 | 2019 Siberia wildfires | Russia | 43,000 | 0 | [4] |
4 | 2014 Northwest Territories fires | Canada | 34,000 | 0 | [5] |
5 | 2002–2003 Australian bushfire season | Australia | 21,000 | 7 | [6][7] |
6 | 2020 California wildfires | United States | 18,000 | 31 | [8] Last updated 23.09.2020 |
7 | 2010 Bolivia forest fires | Bolivia | 15,000 | 0 | [9] |
8 | 2011–2012 Australian bushfire season | Australia | 14,000 | 0 | [7] |
9 | 2006-2007 Australian bushfire season | Australia | 13,000 | 5 | [7] |
10 | 2017 British Columbia wildfires | Canada | 12,000 | 0 | [10] |
11 | 2015 Russian wildfires | Russia | 11,000 | 33 | [11] |
12 | 2012–2013 Australian bushfire season | Australia | 9,000 | 4 | [7] |
13 | 2019 Amazon rainforest wildfires | Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru | 9,000 | 2 | [4] |
References
- ^ "Largest Brush and Forest Fire in Recorded History". World Atlas. 15 March 2018.
- ^ "Australia fires: A visual guide to the bushfire crisis". BBC. 6 January 2020.
- ^ "It's official: every bushfire in NSW has either been extinguished or is under control". Timeout. 14 February 2020.
- ^ a b "From Siberia to Australia, wildfires that ravaged the world in 2019". Republic World. 6 January 2020.
- ^ "A new 2014 for wildfires". Cabin Radio. 5 March 2019.
- ^ "Report of the Inquiry into the 2002-2003 Victorian Bushfires" (PDF). Department of Premier and Cabinet. 14 October 2003.
- ^ a b c d "Bushfire History". CFS South Australia. 6 January 2020.
- ^ "National Large Incident Year-to-date Report" (PDF). Geographic Area Coordination Centers. 14 September 2020.
- ^ "Bolivia declares emergency over forest fires". BBC. 20 August 2010.
- ^ "B.C. farmers and ranchers devastated by wildfires to get $20M in financial aid". CBC. 6 September 2017.
- ^ "Fire rages on as death toll from two blazes reaches 33". The Siberian Times. 16 April 2015.