Remember the last time you heard someone say, “Yoo, that's lit?” Well, there was a good chance somewhere else in the world was literally lit. So beat that.

In 2022, there were 66,255 wildfires, which accumulated to over 7 million burned acres—the most since 2015. Today's changes in climate are creating warmer and drier conditions, leading to longer and more active fire seasons.

What's igniting these fires? A 2017 study has shown that 84% of wildfires are caused by human ignition, and 97% of those threaten homes. Human caused fires result from unattended campfires, the burning of debris, discarded cigarettes, equipment malfunctions, and intentional arson. According to ecologist Jennifer Balch from the University of Colorado, people are starting fires when and where nature normally doesn't—at times when forests are too wet to burn or lightning is uncommon. She adds that humans are actually extending the fire season around the country by three months.

Naturally occurring wildfires are most frequently caused by lightning. Hot lightning, which has low voltage but occurs for longer periods of time, is compared to cold lightning, which is of short duration. Because of the intense heat of hot lightning, it accounts for the majority of wildfires. Climate change isn't helping. Hot land surfaces and increased carbon emissions can produce more powerful and frequent lightning. A 2014 study estimated a 12% increase in lightning strike frequency with every one degree Celsius increase in temperature. In Canada's British Columbia, hot lightning causes 60% of the region's wildfires in an average year. The 2020 Bay Area fire was also a consequence of lightning storms. And of course, the devastating Canada wildfires that turned the east coast of the US into a Breaking Bad episode were started by lightning in Quebec, according to Reuters, but unknown for other areas.

There are a variety of health risks associated with wildfires. One of the many pollutants found in wildfire smoke is particle pollution, a mix of tiny solid and liquid particles in the air. They are so small that they enter and lodge deep in the lungs, triggering serious health conditions. Studies of children in California found that children who breathed smoky air in wildfires had more coughing, colds, wheezing, bronchitis and were more likely to be admitted into the hospital for respiratory causes, especially asthma. Firefighters are at the center of these risks.

Some ways we can prevent wildfires are by never leaving a fire unattended, not starting a fire on a windy day, and making sure the fire is completely doused and cleared of nearby vegetation. For smoking, dispose of matches and butts in a closed container or cup of water, and keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children. For combustion engines and cars, do not park a hot car or any machine on grass, and do not allow gas or motor oil to spill on vegetation. For fireworks, have a source of water or fire extinguisher handy, keep away from children unless supervised, do not use fireworks on a windy day, and douse them with water to completely extinguish them. As humans are a large source of wildfires, it is our responsibility we do our part to prevent them.