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These are the Largest Wildfires in History

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Author Josie Messeter

Wildfires can reach temperatures of 1,500°F or more
Wildfires can reach temperatures of 1,500°F or more. Image via Depositphotos

Fire is one of the main reasons our society has evolved into its current complexity. That being said, fire can also cause indescribable destruction and truly does remind us how powerful nature can be. Here are seven of the largest wildfires recorded in history.

#1 The Great Fire of 1910

The aftermath of the Big Blowup Fire of 1910.
The aftermath of the Big Blow Up Fire of 1910. By National Photo Company – U.S. Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6989498

The Great Fire of 1910, also known as the Big Blowup, ravaged the Northwestern United States, consuming 3 million acres of forest across Washington, Idaho, and Montana. It remains one of the most destructive wildfires in American history.

#2 Black Friday Bushfires

A raging bushfire
A raging bushfire. Image by Depositphotos

In 1939, the Black Friday bushfires swept across the Australian state of Victoria, burning nearly 5 million acres. The intense heat and flames caused significant wildlife loss and environmental damage, making it one of the country’s most notorious wildfires.

#3 The Peshtigo Fire

The Peshtigo Fire showing people seeking refuge in the Peshtigo River, 1871
The Peshtigo Fire showing people seeking refuge in the Peshtigo River, 1871. By G. J. Tisdale – Peshtigo Fire museum, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73317882

The Peshtigo Fire of 1871 is often overshadowed by the Great Chicago Fire, despite being far more deadly. It burned around 1.2 million acres in Wisconsin and Michigan, claiming the lives of over 1,500 people and countless animals.

#4 The Siberian Taiga Fires

An aerial shot of the smoke caused by the Siberian Taiga wildfires.
An aerial shot of the smoke caused by the Siberian Taiga wildfires. By MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC – This image or video was catalogued by Goddard Space Flight Center of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under Photo ID: 2021-08-07., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=144783393

In 2003, a series of wildfires ignited in the Siberian Taiga, affecting an estimated 47 million acres. This vast region, home to diverse wildlife, experienced significant habitat destruction and long-term ecological impacts.

#5 Yellowstone Fires of 1988

Military firefighters in Yellowstone 1988.
Military firefighters in Yellowstone 1988. Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2390679

The Yellowstone fires of 1988 scorched nearly 800,000 acres of the national park. While the immediate impact was devastating, the fires also played a crucial role in the park’s ecological cycle, promoting new growth and biodiversity.

#6 The Amazon Rainforest Fires

Silhouette firefithing helicopter dumps water on an Amazon rainforest fire.
Silhouette firefithing helicopter dumps water on an Amazon rainforest fire. Image via Depositphotos

In recent years, the Amazon Rainforest has seen increasing wildfire activity, particularly in 2019 when fires burned through nearly 2.2 million acres. These fires threaten the rich biodiversity of the rainforest and contribute to global climate change.

#7 The Greek Wildfires

Smoke over Athens following the raging wildfires.
Smoke over Athens following the raging wildfires. Image via Depositphotos

Greece has experienced numerous wildfires, but the fires of 2007 were particularly devastating. Burning around 670,000 acres, these fires resulted in significant loss of human and animal lives and highlighted the vulnerability of Mediterranean ecosystems to wildfire.

The Largest Wildfire Ever Recorded in History: Conclusion

Fireman putting out fire in a meadow.
Fireman putting out fire in a meadow. Image via Depositphotos

With climate change and global warming escalating, we can only count on raging wildfires like these becoming more and more frequent. Tracing the history of these largest wildfires ever recorded in history highlights the devastating effects, prompting us to prevent them at all costs.

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