Wildfires have smashed records this
year. Los Angeles had the most
destructive inferno in its history.
>> No, no, no.
>> In Spain, smoke pollution reached the
highest levels in a quarter of a
century. And in Turkey, thousands of
people fled their homes. Now, new
research analyzing trends over two
decades has shown there's been a 40%
rise in the number of people at risk.
And it's not just because of heat and
drought from a changing climate.
>> In certain parts of the world, we're
also seeing people migrating more and
more into areas that are fireprone.
We're seeing that for example in the
western US where we see this very idilic
romantic image of living closer to
nature and that's a trend which is
essentially putting people closer to
fire and closer to fireprone landscape.
>> Scientists identified 18.6 6 million
recorded fires between 2002 and 2021
with a total of 440 million people
affected. And while fires in Europe and
North America grab public attention, 85%
of the people affected are actually in
Africa. But it is the growing intensity
of fires close to communities that is
causing concern.
Researchers say there needs to be more
warnings of risky activities like
barbecues in drought conditions, and
landscapes need to be carefully managed
with dry vegetation burned off in small
controlled fires rather than letting it
build up to provide fuel for an inferno.
Thomas Moore, Sky News.