NASA’s Earth Observatory shared an image, capturing smoke emanating from a fire at the border of Oaxaca and Chiapas in southern Mexico.
This event underscores Mexico’s struggle as the country confronts over 100 active wildfires, signaling a broader global trend of intensifying fire seasons.
According to NASA: “As Mexico entered peak fire season in March 2024, dry and warm conditions helped fuel the flames of more than 100 active blazes across the country.”
The National Forestry Commission of Mexico (CONAFOR) reported 120 actively burning fires on March 27, impacting over 7,000 hectares across 19 states.
Fire season in Mexico, typically spanning from January to June, peaks between March and May, driven by climatic conditions that favor the onset of wildfires.
The end of the dry season coupled with warmer spring temperatures prepares the ground for fires, facilitated by dry vegetation and human activities like slash-and-burn agriculture, accidental campfires, and arson.
The country’s diverse topography and climate zones contribute to varying fire behaviors, with forested regions particularly at risk.
The global context of fire seasons
The trend of more severe fire seasons is evident worldwide, linked to climate change, land management, and human actions.
In North America, longer and more destructive fire seasons have been noted, with California experiencing unprecedented wildfires.
Australia’s Black Summer in 2019-2020 saw devastating bushfires that caused extensive environmental and human losses.
Similarly, the Amazon rainforest and parts of Europe and Siberia have faced significant fire outbreaks, underscoring the global scale of the issue and its contribution to climate change challenges.
