The 2016 Wildfire Season: 420,002,016th Year of Biomass Burning on Earth

As of this writing, notable fire activity during 2016 has occurred in Australia, Canada, Nepal and the U.S. Bushfires in southeastern Australia destroyed homes early in the year. Canada’s Fort McMurray fire in May made world news. Nepal had its most extensive fire activity in 20 years. The drought conditions in California have exacerbated the state’s fire activity with over 4,000 fire starts to date. Several wildland-urban interface fires lead to loss of life and numerous homes and structures. Smoke and air quality contributed to increased community health hazards in many regions of the world. This presentation highlights the 2016 wildfire season, emphasizing the role of weather and climate, and key events and impacts through pictures and narrative.