Drought and Wildfire: A Southeastern Perfect Storm The smoke filled skies of late April 2026 are a stark reminder that the American Southeast is becoming an increasingly treacherous landscape for wildfires.
The region's prolonged drought, exacerbated by climate change, has left an unprecedented amount of fuel for fires to spread.
Hurricane Helene in 2024 caused massive destruction, including millions of downed trees and branches, which remain two years later as a hazardous environment for wildfires to erupt.