Wildfires have become more frequent due to climate change and human activities, but they have burned throughout history.

Drought and dry winds fueled the January 2025 wildfires in California, some of the worst the state has seen. Back in 1871, similar conditions carried fires across the Midwest, leading to the notorious Great Chicago Fire that killed more than three hundred people.

Humans have developed different methods for preventing and stopping wildfires. Indigenous peoples such as Native Americans and Aboriginal Australians have set controlled fires to burn brush and prevent larger fires later. Firefighters use engines, trucks, and planes to tame fires with water and chemicals. Learn all about wildfires, from how they start and how they are classified to how they can be stopped and prevented.