The real cause of most wildfires? People
Federal data indicates that over three-quarters of wildfires in the United States are caused by human activity, ranging from negligence to deliberate arson. Experts note that as more people move into fire-prone areas, the risk of human-ignited blazes continues to rise.
Why it matters
Understanding the human element in wildfire ignition is critical for public policy, land management, and disaster prevention strategies in the American West.
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The Hawk Fire that's been threatening Reno, Nevada is the latest destructive wildfire in the West in recent weeks that investigators believe was human-caused.
That moniker fits a larger pattern: Federal data show that more than three-quarters of all the wildfires in the U.S. tend to be started by people, whether through negligence such as a campfire that wasn't fully extinguished, a downed power line or deliberate arson.
"There are more people living in fire prone landscapes every year and every one of those people is a potential ignition source," says Kelly Pohl, a researcher at Headwaters Economics, a Montana-based think tank.
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