Is the World Really on Fire?

Author: Tim Platnich

Date: August 25, 2026

Oh my. The world is on fire. Just review the headlines both in media and in scientific publications:

"The world is on fire: True scale of devastating wildfires wreaking havoc across the globe" - The Independent, August 2026

"A World Ablaze: The Climate Future We Feared is Here" - Union of Concerned Scientists, August 3, 2026

"Wildfires in Europe: Is 2026 already the worst year on record?" - Euronews, August 13, 2026

"Worsening drought and record heat grip Europe, fuelling extraordinary wildfires" - European Commission Joint Research Centre, August 12, 2026

"Wildfires and extreme heat show climate change is now Europe's biggest security threat" - Chatham House, August, 2026

"Europe's summer of wildfires is just a taste of what's to come" - Scientific American, August 2026

"Global fire outbreaks hit record high as 'unprecedented' heat extremes loom" - Reuters - May 11, 2026

"Wildfires rage across Europe and North America" - Reuters - July 14, 2026

"Extremely scary findings show climate crisis is worsening wildfires in Europe" - The Guardian, July 31, 2026

But what does the data tell us?

In an article published in the London Telegraph on August 17, 2026, Bjorn Lomborg cites some statistics contrary to the media and scientific publication narrative as follows:

"A century ago, far more area burned than does now."

"Satellite data shows that as of August 12, the world's burned area in 2026 is 42 per cent below the 2012-2025 average for this point in the year - on track to becoming the quietest global fire season in many years."

"... Europe without Russia has only burned two-thirds of its 2012-2025 average this year; 10 of the past 14 years saw more fire by mid-August."

" ... Canada is having a below-average fire year as has the United States."

"Both North America and South America as a whole are at all-time satellite lows."

"Africa, the most burned continent, is at an all time low, 44 per cent below normal."

"Oceania (mostly Australia) is 15 per cent below its usual burned area at this time ..."

"... Asia has burned near record-lows this year."

"Every continent is below normal or far below normal for how little is burning."

"In the early 1900s nearly 4 per cent of the planet's land burned annually, roughly double today's rate."

In many instances, Lomborg provides links to the data he is referring to. I have included some of those links, and others, above.

Lomborg confirms that "France's fire season is record-bad and Spain's is severe'. However, he makes the point that "two countries having a dreadful summer do not make a continental inferno, let alone a planetary one. Europe as a whole is having a below-average fire year."

What about the media's association of extreme wildfires in France and Spain to climate change? As Lomborg notes, a record June heatwave dried out vegetation in those countries. This is a weather event that may or may not be tied to climate change. The drying out of vegetation was a factor however other factors came into play like poor forest management. The extent of damage caused has additional factors like the lack of fire-resistant building codes and inadequate fire-fighting resources and management.

Wildfires, particularly where they affect heavily populated areas, are devastating. They are, and always have been, a fact of nature. Whether they can be reduced through net-zero policies is debatable. Undoubtedly, however, we can take steps to reduce the devastation through proper forest management, proper building codes, and having adequate fire-fighting resources.

The question arises: why do media outlets not report the bigger picture and focus only on the sensational? The question really answers itself. Sensational headlines sell news.

It is more perplexing why scientific publications are not more forthright. That is a complex subject that is beyond the scope of this blog post.

The good news is that the world may not quite be Nero's Rome.