Wildfires in 2024

Exceptional drought drove catastrophic wildfires across South America, with Bolivia (10.7 Mha), Venezuela (5.2 Mha), Peru (0.30 Mha), Guyana (0.26 Mha), and Ecuador (0.09 Mha) experiencing record burned area; millions were exposed to long-duration hazardous air quality. Holdover ignitions from the record 2023 Canada wildfire season extended numerous fires into 2024 such that 4.86 Mha were burned, the second highest since 2001. Catastrophic loss of life in Chile, where 131 people died in a relatively small but extreme wildfire event, underscored the need to look beyond area burned and emissions in understanding wildfire impacts.