Urooj Niazi 
world’s 15 biggest wildfires & lessons for pakistan
Wildfires are fires that burn forests, grasslands, and sometimes villages. They can spread very fast and cause a lot of damage to nature, animals, and people’s homes. In Pakistan, wildfires sometimes happen in forest areas, especially in the north, and they can be very dangerous.
To better protect ourselves and our forests, it’s important to understand the biggest and most destructive wildfires from around the world. These fires teach us how to prevent and control such disasters in the future.
Here is a list of 15 major wildfires in history and what we can learn from them.
1. New South Wales Bushfires, Australia (1974–75)
These fires burned about 289 million acres of land — almost 15% of Australia! It was one of the largest fires ever recorded.
2. Black Summer Fires, Australia (2019–2020)
Fires burned 60 million acres and killed billions of animals. Thousands of people had to leave their homes.
3. Siberian Taiga Fires, Russia (2003)
Around 55 million acres of forest were destroyed because of drought and lightning.
4. Russian Wildfires (2021)
These fires burned 44.5 million acres during a very hot and dry summer.
5. Black Dragon Fire, China & Russia (1987)
A huge fire that crossed borders, burning 18 million acres and causing many deaths.
6. Chinchaga Fire, Canada (1950)
Burned about 1.4 million hectares of forest and created smoke that spread far away.
7. Peshtigo Fire, USA (1871)
The deadliest wildfire in history — it killed between 1,500 and 2,500 people and burned 1.2 million acres.
8. Cloquet Fire, USA (1918)
Burned 250,000 acres and destroyed 38 towns, killing over 1,000 people.
9. Great Hinckley Fire, USA (1894)
Destroyed 200,000 acres and killed more than 400 people.
10. Great Fire of 1910 (“Big Blowup”), USA
Burned 3 million acres and killed 87 people, many of them firefighters.
11. Camp Fire, California, USA (2018)
Destroyed the town of Paradise, burning 153,000 acres and killing 86 people.
12. Thomas Fire, California, USA (2017)
Burned 281,893 acres, one of the largest in California.
13. Indonesian Peatland Fires (2015)
Fires caused heavy smoke and haze affecting many countries in Southeast Asia.
14. Uttarakhand Forest Fires, India (2016)
Severe forest fires destroyed thousands of hectares in the Himalayan region.
15. Dragon Bravo Fire, USA (2025)
Recently declared a megafire after burning over 115,000 acres near the Grand Canyon.
What Can Pakistan Learn From These Fires?
- Early Warning: Use satellite and local monitoring to spot fires quickly before they spread.
- Public Education: Teach people living near forests how to avoid starting fires by accident.
- Forest Care: Clear dry plants and dead wood that can catch fire easily.
- Climate Action: Work to reduce pollution and protect forests, which help fight climate change.
- Cooperation: Work with neighboring countries to share information and help during big fires.
Pakistan’s forests and mountains are precious, but wildfires can threaten them, especially during hot, dry seasons. By learning from these global wildfires and improving our own fire prevention and response, Pakistan can better protect its people and nature.
