Wildfires worldwide · Country
United States: wildfires seen from space, 2000-2026
From November 2000 to 15 October 2026, NASA's MODIS satellites detected 3,007,752 vegetation fires in this country.
- Fires detected since 2000
- 3,007,752
- World rank
- #10 of 223
- Share of the world
- 2.7%
- Record year
- 2005
- 20-year change (Aqua)
- −4%
Fires detected per year
Terra from November 2000, Aqua from July 2002. 2026 runs to 15 October.
Year by year data
| Year | Detections |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 41,822 |
| 2002 | 75,368 |
| 2003 | 108,394 |
| 2004 | 153,038 |
| 2005 | 163,401 |
| 2006 | 121,972 |
| 2007 | 136,179 |
| 2008 | 115,573 |
| 2009 | 112,655 |
| 2010 | 94,062 |
| 2011 | 119,959 |
| 2012 | 131,606 |
| 2013 | 95,938 |
| 2014 | 92,394 |
| 2015 | 139,536 |
| 2016 | 106,797 |
| 2017 | 145,069 |
| 2018 | 119,196 |
| 2019 | 101,971 |
| 2020 | 148,412 |
| 2021 | 156,655 |
| 2022 | 121,943 |
| 2023 | 87,715 |
| 2024 | 118,241 |
| 2025 | 101,782 |
| 2026 | 94,524 |
Fire season: average detections per month, 2003-2025
In short
2005 is the year with the most detections (163,401); the record month is September 2020, with 49,646.
The fire season is concentrated between July and September: these three months hold 40% of an average year's detections.
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 stayed similar (−4%, Aqua satellite).
The average radiative power of a detection (Aqua satellite) went from 67.3 MW in 2003-2012 to 77.7 MW in 2016-2025.
In 2026 (to 15 October): 94,524 detections.
Method and sourcesFrequently asked questions
United States: frequently asked questions
United States: how many wildfires are there each year?
On average 121,413 vegetation fires detected a year by the MODIS satellites in 2003-2025, with a high of 163,401 in 2005.
United States: are wildfires increasing?
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 stayed similar (−4%, Aqua satellite).
United States: when is the fire season?
The fire season is concentrated between July and September: these three months hold 40% of an average year's detections.
United States: what was the worst year for wildfires?
2005, with 163,401 detections. The record month was September 2020, with 49,646.
Other countries
- Zambia4,966,412
- South Sudan4,277,842
- Central African Republic4,021,547
- Mozambique3,513,919
- Tanzania2,195,436
- China2,144,204
- Bolivia1,855,429
- India1,839,644
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