Climate Change Extends Wildfire Burning Hours, Intensifying North American and Southeast Asian Crises

Research published in Science Advances indicates that climate change is prolonging wildfire durations across North America, leading to earlier starts and extended burn times. Over the past 50 years, the hours conducive to wildfires have surged by 36%, resulting in an additional 2,000 hours of potential burning in regions such as central Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Recent incidents, including the Lahaina fire in 2023 and the Los Angeles fires in 2025, have persisted into the night, hindering firefighting efforts. Meanwhile, Thailand has reported more than 600 fire hotspots, triggering a public health emergency due to PM2.5 pollution, with Senator Maneerat Khemawong highlighting severe air quality issues for over two months. The study, by the Canadian Forest Service and University of Alberta, attributes increased fire activity to warmer nighttime temperatures.