Through April 3, the fourth level of the main Aquarium building will be closed for renovation, changing access to exhibits, amenities and guest routes.
Los Angeles in 2025. Texas in 2024. Maui in 2023. Australia in 2020. Why does it seem like wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense?
Slow-moving wildfires are part of a beneficial natural cycle, but intense, fast-burning blazes are dangerous and destructive. We're taking a closer look at wildfires, red flag warnings, and the role climate change plays in wildfire risk.
A wildfire is an unplanned fire burning in a natural area such as a forest, grassland or prairie. All fires are fed by heat, oxygen, and fuel like leaves, needles and wood. Slow-moving, low-intensity fires in natural areas are part of a beneficial cycle that serves important ecological purposes. These fires thin out dense tree canopies so sunlight can reach smaller trees and plants below, and the ashes they leave behind enrich the soil with nutrients that feed plants' growth. These low-intensity fires also clear out underbrush before it gets too thick and turns into ideal fuel for hotter, high-intensity fires.
Fast-burning, high-intensity wildfires are incredibly destructive. And as people continue to build homes and businesses closer to forests, grasslands and prairies that are prone to burning, they too are at increased direct risk from wildfires.
Wildfires occur all over the world, at all times of year. Here in the United States, wildfires happen in every area of the country, with the greatest risk in western states from summer into fall. FEMA's wildfire risk map shows the evolving range of wildfire threats in every state and territory.
Although wildfires are less common in the mid-Atlantic than in other regions, Maryland is not immune to wildfire risk. According to the Department of Natural Resources, wildfires in Maryland peak in spring and fall when the weather tends to be drier and windier. In 2024, the East Coast saw unusual fire activity, with more frequent and intense fires and with fire risk lingering into winter thanks to extreme drought. Wildfire smoke can also travel far and wide, diminishing air quality and posing health risks to people, pets and wildlife hundreds of miles away from the fire itself. (Marylanders experienced this when wildfires in Canada negatively impacted air quality along the East Coast in 2023.)
Lightning is one natural phenomenon that can spark wildfires, but it's responsible for only a tiny percentage of wildfires in the U.S. People cause far more, with over 90% of all wildfires sparked by campfires, cigarettes, downed power lines, arson and other human sources.
The National Weather Service issues red flag warnings, or burn bans, when there's a heightened risk for wildfires so people know to be particularly cautious. The three factors that dictate a red flag warning are dry vegetation, low humidity levels and high winds.
When a red flag warning is in place, open-air burning is prohibited in Maryland. This includes campfires and charcoal grilling. It's also important to safely dispose of lit cigarettes or matches. A cigarette tossed out the window of a moving car, for example, can easily ignite dry leaves or grass on the side of the road.
According to NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information's Monthly National Climate Report for Annual 2024, "The number of wildfires in 2024 was approximately 90% of the 20-year average (2001–2020) with more than 61,000 wildfires reported over the year, while the total acres burned from these wildfires—8.8 million acres—was 26% above this 20-year average of nearly 7 million acres." In 2024, notable fires occurred in Alaska, the Texas Panhandle, New Mexico, northern California and New York/New Jersey, and 2025 began with the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.
Statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Climate Hubs show that wildfires are also burning longer. Their data show that wildfires tended to burn for 6 days on average between 1973 and 1982. Three decades later, between 2003 and 2012, that average burn time jumped to 52 days.
Hot, high-intensity wildfires are becoming more common due to the disruption of the natural burn cycle. The proliferation of non-native plants might also play a part. In Hawaii, non-native grasses were found to contribute to the Lahaina fire that killed more than 90 people in 2023. And climate change—with its rising temperatures, reduced winter snowpack, earlier snowmelt, reduced summer precipitation and increased evaporation—is a major factor that contributes to the size, scale and scope of wildfires today.
The most important long-term solution to destructive wildfires is combatting climate change. Climate change is caused by burning fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, exceeding natural levels. This "extra" carbon dioxide builds up and acts like a heavy blanket, trapping the Earth's heat and warming the atmosphere and ocean, and causing dramatic changes to global climate. The good news is that billions of people around the world are taking action to reduce the use of fossil fuels, from global accords to individual energy-use changes.
To reduce our carbon footprint, the Aquarium has set a goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035. Our team also talks about ocean and climate science with our million-plus guests each year, and we advocate for increased investment in climate resiliency.
In the short term, when the risk of high-intensity wildfires is low, controlled burns can eliminate the fuel that might feed larger fires.
Since 2009, the Aquarium has partnered with The Nature Conservancy at Nassawango Creek Preserve on Maryland's Eastern Shore to restore the Atlantic white cedar habitat there, in part through controlled burns. Volunteers and students then plant Atlantic white cedar saplings. As they grow, these trees help combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide, holding moisture, and creating shade that contributes to cooler temperatures. The trees also support wetland wildlife and plants.
If you're interested in getting involved locally, volunteer at an upcoming Aquarium conservation event. We host a variety of events throughout the year to restore natural habitats in Baltimore and beyond.
