Annual US wildfire structure losses could nearly triple by mid-century
Research suggests that without further action, up to 449,000 structures could be lost between 2026 and 2060
A 2024 study found that fast fires, defined as those that burned more than 4,000 acres in a single day, represented just 2.7 percent of fires analyzed but accounted for 78 percent of documented structures destroyed and 61 percent of reported firefighting costs. New research suggests the annual number of structures damaged or destroyed by wildfires nationwide could nearly triple by mid-century without further action to reduce risk.