Wildfires have shaped landscapes, ecosystems and human history for centuries. Some of the deadliest wildfires have burned across millions of acres, leaving behind devastation and reshaping the way we manage fire-prone environments. The most devastating wildfires have been fueled by dry conditions, lightning strikes, and strong winds, leading to some of the most destructive wildfires on record. So, what was the largest wildfire in the history of the world? That title goes to the New South Wales wildfires that happened in the summer of 1974. A staggering 289 million acres were burned by the wildfires, and approximately 15% of the total landmass of Australia was lost. Surprisingly, the overall human loss was relatively small, with only 6 fatalities. That's because much of the fires occurred in the largely uninhabited interior of the continent. A whopping 50,000 livestock were lost as well. An investigation revealed that heavy rainfall was to blame. That may sound strange, but heavy rainfall promotes rapid vegetation growth, which then dries out, creating a flammable fuel that can easily ignite. Increased lightning strikes ignited the dry vegetation and started the massive wildfires.
