The 2018 wildfire season has begun in devastating fashion, and 61 major fires burn uncontained across 12 states. over 760,000 acres — roughly the size of the entire state of Rhode Island — are currently on fire in America.
With total burned acres close to last year’s total at this time, and with ongoing hot and dry conditions across the American West and Southwest, all signs point to 2018 being as bad or worse of a year as 2017, one of the worst wildfire seasons in decades.
More than 70,000 unplanned blazes burned more than 10 million acres across the country in 2017. That was only the second time this happened since 1952. The other was in 2015. To put out these fires cost firefighting agencies over $2.9 billion. Including property damage, total costs were estimated at around $18 billion.
In 2017, fires were concentrated primarily in the West, and 2018 will likely be no different. The National Interagency Coordination Center predicts fire conditions will be worse than normal across parts of eight western states this summer.
Still, According to data collected by the National Interagency Fire Center, a group of connected federal agencies that monitor wildfires, fires are by no means a phenomenon limited to that part of the country. Every state in the country had at least one unplanned forest fire in 2017.
Click here to see the states where wildfires cause the most damage.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.
Source: aimintang / iStock
50. Delaware
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: <0.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 135 acres (the fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 5 (2nd fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 686 acres (4th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: 4u4me / iStock
49. Illinois
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: <0.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 8,187 acres (7th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 13 (3rd fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 154,409 acres (24th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Thinkstock
48. Maine
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: <0.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 4,764 acres (6th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 489 (17th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 2,329 acres (6th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Thinkstock
47. Vermont
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: <0.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 2,019 acres (3rd fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 55 (8th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 3,440 acres (7th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: Thinkstock
46. New Hampshire
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: <0.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 2,575 acres (4th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 36 (6th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 1,200 acres (5th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Hank Erdmann / Shutterstock.com
45. New York
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: <0.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 19,405 acres (10th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 57 (9th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 7,656 acres (9th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: Timothy J. Quill / Wikimedia Commons
44. Rhode Island
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: <0.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 514 acres (2nd fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 31 (5th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 299 acres (2nd fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Thinkstock
43. Wisconsin
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: <0.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 27,409 acres (13th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 696 (22nd fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 319,663 acres (19th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Todd Petrie / Wikimedia Commons
42. Indiana
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: <0.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 19,209 acres (9th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 22 (4th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 99,176 acres (17th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: Jacqueline Nix / iStock
41. Ohio
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: <0.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 21,944 acres (11th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 68 (10th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 30,382 acres (11th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Thinkstock
40. Connecticut
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 3,554 acres (5th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 97 (12th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 559 acres (3rd fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: Thinkstock
39. Pennsylvania
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.2%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 45,778 acres (15th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 537 (19th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 72,764 acres (16th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
24/7 Wall St.
Source: alexeys / iStock
38. Michigan
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.2%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 58,802 acres (17th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 270 (14th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 135,254 acres (22nd fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Thinkstock
37. Iowa
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.2%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 85,581 acres (19th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 427 (16th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 212,134 acres (21st most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: AlbertPego / iStock
36. Massachusetts
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.3%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 13,854 acres (8th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 1,216 (18th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 6,980 acres (8th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Thinkstock
35. North Dakota
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.4%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 157,774 acres (21st fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 1,086 (21st most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 188,785 acres (24th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: Thinkstock
34. Maryland
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.4%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 23,597 acres (12th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 108 (13th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 33,988 acres (12th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Thinkstock
33. West Virginia
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.5%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 72,362 acres (18th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 520 (18th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 12,991 acres (10th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Pendragon1998 / Wikimedia Commons
32. South Carolina
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.5%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 91,364 acres (20th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 1,092 (20th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 2,376,548 acres (3rd most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: underworld111 / iStock
31. Missouri
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.5%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 233,884 acres (25th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 3,398 (5th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 488,873 acres (15th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Thinkstock
30. Minnesota
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.7%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 342,881 acres (24th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 1,036 (23rd most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 982,016 acres (8th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: Tiago_Fernandez / iStock
29. Mississippi
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.8%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 229,238 acres (23rd fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 2,775 (7th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 876,687 acres (10th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
24/7 Wall St.
Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock
28. Nebraska
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.8%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 381,905 acres (21st most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 49 (7th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 120,992 acres (20th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Leonard J. DeFrancisci / Wikimedia Commons
27. Virginia
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.8%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 206,692 acres (22nd fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 1,522 (14th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 155,958 acres (25th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: Thinkstock
26. Louisiana
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.8%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 229,314 acres (24th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 1,064 (22nd most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 778,041 acres (12th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Thinkstock
25. Arkansas
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 0.9%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 291,160 acres (25th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 1,706 (12th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 1,802,470 acres (4th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: Jeremiah A. Gourd / iStock
24. Alabama
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 1.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 346,573 acres (23rd most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 1,254 (17th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 1,794,863 acres (5th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Thinkstock
23. New Jersey
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 1.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 50,941 acres (16th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 735 (23rd fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 71,687 acres (15th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Larabelle / Flickr
22. Hawaii
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 1.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 44,759 acres (14th fewest)
> 2017 Wildfires: 3 (the fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 150 acres (the fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: Thinkstock
21. South Dakota
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 1.3%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 652,823 acres (17th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 1,420 (15th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 370,690 acres (18th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock
20. Tennessee
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 1.4%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 364,980 acres (22nd most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 593 (20th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 156,924 acres (25th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: Laura Clay-Ballard / iStock
19. Georgia
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 1.4%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 514,685 acres (18th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 3,929 (4th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 4,420,945 acres (2nd most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 5 (tied — 9th most)
Source: Thinkstock
18. Kentucky
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 1.6%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 393,141 acres (20th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 892 (25th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 140,911 acres (23rd fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock
17. North Carolina
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 1.6%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 487,599 acres (19th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 5,125 (3rd most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 1,434,048 acres (6th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
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Source: aoldman / iStock
16. Wyoming
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 1.7%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 1,029,137 acres (16th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 599 (21st fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 101,515 acres (18th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Thinkstock
15. Colorado
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 1.7%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 1,127,910 acres (15th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 967 (24th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 252,263 acres (20th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 1 (tied — 14th most)
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Source: Staplegunther / Flickr
14. Utah
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 2.2%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 1,143,739 acres (14th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 1,166 (19th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 207,553 acres (22nd most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 2 (13th most)
Source: Thinkstock
13. Kansas
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 2.3%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 1,213,309 acres (13th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 71 (11th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 107,145 acres (19th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: none
Source: Thinkstock
12. Alaska
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 3.4%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 12,530,900 acres (the most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 364 (15th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 195,241 acres (23rd most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 48 (the most)
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Source: LindaJohnsonbaugh / iStock
11. Florida
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 3.8%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 1,298,092 acres (12th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 3,280 (6th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 5,285,591 acres (the most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 1 (tied — 14th most)
Source: Thinkstock
10. Montana
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 3.9%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 3,655,811 acres (6th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 2,422 (8th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 375,322 acres (16th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 10 (tied — 6th most)
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Source: Thinkstock
9. Arizona
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 3.9%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 2,866,131 acres (10th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 2,321 (9th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 956,709 acres (9th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 5 (tied — 9th most)
Source: digidreamgrafix / iStock
8. Texas
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 4.1%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 6,854,053 acres (2nd most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 9,827 (the most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 1,091,165 acres (7th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 12 (5th most)
Source: volgariver / iStock
7. Nevada
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 4.3%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 3,025,544 acres (8th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 768 (24th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 50,948 acres (13th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 14 (4th most)
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Source: Thinkstock
6. New Mexico
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 4.4%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 3,444,756 acres (7th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 813 (25th fewest)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 736,746 acres (13th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 4 (tied — 11th most)
Source: Thinkstock
5. Oklahoma
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 5.7%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 2,516,598 acres (11th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 1,906 (11th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 56,906 acres (14th fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 4 (tied — 11th most)
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Source: tupungato / iStock
4. California
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 6.8%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 6,740,468 acres (3rd most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 9,560 (2nd most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 598,869 acres (14th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 19 (3rd most)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Thinkstock
3. Washington
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 6.9%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 2,933,519 acres (9th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 1,346 (16th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 131,126 acres (21st fewest)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 6 (8th most)
Source: Thinkstock
2. Oregon
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 7.9%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 4,827,985 acres (5th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 2,049 (10th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 876,576 acres (11th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 10 (tied — 6th most)
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Source: Thinkstock
1. Idaho
> Area burned, wildfires 2008-2017: 10.6%
> Wildfire damage 2008-2017 : 5,597,870 acres (4th most)
> 2017 Wildfires: 1,598 (13th most)
> Planned burns 2008-2017: 371,020 acres (17th most)
> Large (100k+ acre) fires since 1997: 23 (2nd most)
Detailed Findings
While fires can break out anywhere there are trees, they are much more common and destructive in more sparsely populated parts of the country. In Alaska, more than 12 million acres have burned over the last 10 years, more than the total burned acreage in 39 other states combined. The 6.9 million acres burned in Idaho due to wildfires from 2007 through 2016 account for over 10% of the state’s total landmass.
Fires can occur anywhere, at any time, but certain conditions can drastically increase the risk and severity of fires. Drought, for example, dries out flammable flora, creating conditions for an easily spreadable forest fire.
States on the West Coast had faced prolonged severe drought conditions for nearly three years before the situation finally improved in early 2016. Today, abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions exist across the majority of landmass in all West Coast states. The four states most affected by forest fires over the past decade are western states that have been in drought for years: Idaho, Oregon, California, and Washington.
As is intuitive, larger states tend to have larger areas burned by wildfire. All but four of the 20 states that had the most acres burned by wildfire over the past decade are among the 20 largest states by area.
However, even when controlling for size, larger states tend to have greater issues with fire. In 14 states, at least 2% of their total area has burned over the past decade. Eleven of the 14 are also among the largest states. This is likely because these larger states also tend to be less densely populated, which increases the risk of wildfires and makes it harder for people to fight them effectively once they happen.
Methodology
To determine the states with the most wildfires, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the National Interagency Fire Center’s Fire and Aviation Management Web Applications Program. The figures are the sum totals of all wildfires reported by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Land Management, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and other land management departments from 2008 to 2017. The number of large fires, which refers to the number of fires that burned more than 100,000 acres of land, also came from the NIFC. The percentage of a state’s land burned by wildfires from 2008 to 2017 was calculated by dividing the total acreage burned by wildfires over that period by the total land area of a state, with data from the U.S. Census Bureau that was converted from square miles to acres.
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