Annual US Fire Seasons

The US wildfire season traditionally ran from late spring through early fall, peaking in August and September in the West. Over the last two decades the season has lengthened substantially — snowpack melts earlier, fuels dry out sooner, and large fires now occur in every month of the year. The 10-year NIFC average (2014–2023) is roughly 62,000 wildfires and 7.4 million acres burned per year, with considerable year-to-year variation driven by drought state, winter precipitation, and ignition patterns. Each season recap below shows total acres burned, named fire counts, notable incidents, and how the year compared to the 10-year state average.