New South Wales Bushfires, 1974–5 Army members fighting fires in southeastern Australia. (more) 10 of the world’s largest fires Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/10-of-the-worlds-largest-fires Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Virginia Hunt Virginia Hunt is an Editorial Intern at Encyclopædia Britannica. She is a third year student at Northwestern University where she is majoring in journalism and biology with a minor in creative writing.... Virginia Hunt Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 29, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot To some extent, wildfires are a natural part of a healthy forest ecosystem. Blazes can help strip dead organic materials and release nutrients. Some plants even require fire to sprout. But, whether started by abandoned campfires or lightning strikes, fires that reach a high intensity and that cannot be contained often become severely destructive. Furthermore, the drier and hotter the conditions, the more devastating these blazes can be. Climate change, driven largely by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, has made extreme heat waves five times more likely than they were 150 years ago, and wildfires are ...(100 of 1008 words)

　　Continue reading with Britannica Premium The trusted destination for facts and information 7-Day Free Trial, No Ads, Unlimited Access Subscribe Today