How 2025 Compares to the Worst Years for Wildfires

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Stretching from late spring to early fall, wildfire season is winding down in the United States. Still, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), there are currently more than 60 wildfires burning across over three-quarters of a million acres in a dozen Western states. The ongoing threat wildfires still pose to life and property in much of the country is indicative of an especially active 2025 wildfire season.

NIFC data shows that, between January 1 and September 8, there have been an average of 42,453 wildfires each year in the U.S. between 2015 and 2024. Meanwhile, over the same period in 2025, there have been more than 47,700 wildfires. But while wildfires have been more common than average this year, they have also generally been less destructive. To date, wildfires have consumed a reported 4.3 million acres – considerably fewer than the 5.7 million acre year-to-date average over the last decade.

This year, dry and windy conditions, often exacerbated by high temperatures, increased wildfire risk in many parts of the country. So far, 2025 stands out as one of the worst years for wildfires in the last decade – and the vast majority of wildfires since January were avoidable, as an average of 85% of all wildfires are caused by human activity.

Using data from the NIFC, Climate Crisis 247 identified the worst years for wildfires in the last decade. We reviewed annual wildfire data going back to 2015, and ranked each year on the total number of wildfires reported between January 1 and September 8. Supplemental data on total acreage consumed by wildfire is also from the NIFC.