Can wildfires occur during cold months?

Remember it only takes three things for a fire to burn: fuel, oxygen, and an ignition source (heat). All three of these conditions can be present during winter months. It may be harder for a fire to start when the ground and air are cold but the fuel for a fire, such as trees and plants are typically drier in the winter.

The fact that wildfires were burning in Norway and Sweden and parts of the Arctic circle during 2018 is proof that wildfires can occur during cold months. And, according to a recent study fire caused by lightning strikes in Canada’s Northwest Territories and Interior Alaska found that fires have risen 2 to 5 percent each year since 1975 and the cause is attributed to higher temperatures in general, i.e., global warming.