The Wild Truth About Wildfires (And Why We’re Often to Blame)

The wildfires that haunt us, and how we face them head-on. Here is what you need to know.

Did you know that the biggest threat to wildlife today isn’t necessarily the scorching heat from climate change? It is us. Yes, human activity is behind an estimated 90% of all wildfires globally. Something as small as a tossed cigarette or an unchecked campfire can wipe out generations of trees, entire ecosystems, and countless hours of restoration work. Even our smallest actions have the most colossal consequences.

Knowing the care, time and passion poured into bringing degraded land back to life. It is heartbreaking when wildfires strike. Even when they’re a continent away, like the recent one in Yucatán, they still feel close to home. We’ve hired trained rangers, used smart technology, and built partnerships to protect these ecosystems. But wildfires continue to threaten everything we’ve built. And as climate change progresses, wildfires are only expected to increase. In fact, they’re projected to rise from 10% of all climate-driven disasters today to 50% by 2080.

So, let’s talk about the different types of wildfires, what causes them, and, most importantly, how we can prevent them.

1. Surface Fires

These are the most common and recognizable types of wildfire. The type of fires you will often see on the news. Flames crawling along the forest floor, charring low vegetation and killing young trees. Freshly planted forests are especially vulnerable, particularly when dry grasses and shrubs lie close to the trunks. Even older forests, once surface fires catch on to larger areas through wind and dry conditions, can be completely destroyed by them. Worldwide, the most resources are spent on fighting this type of wildfire.

2. Ground Fires

Picture a deadly fire without visible flames, burning away under the ground you walk on. Sounds hellish? Well, it is certainly hell to put out this kind of fire. Ground fires burn beneath the forest floor, consuming organic matter like peat and decayed roots in the duff layer. These fires are sustained by glowing combustion (without flames) and can go undetected for a long time because they spread slowly, at low temperatures and underground.

The most annoying thing about these fires is the amount of smoke they can sometimes produce, choking wildlife and nearby cities and villages. Sometimes, ground fires can persist for weeks and months even in cold temperatures. They are most common in areas with high organic content, such as peatlands, where the soil retains moisture but can ignite under the right conditions.

3. Crown Fires

Now, these are the big ones—the terrifying kind that leap from treetop to treetop. In fact, crown fires are the most violent and dangerous of forest fires. Crown fires burn in the upper canopy of the forest and are often fueled by surface fires climbing up through shrubs and smaller trees, a process called the “ladder effect.” They’re fast, ferocious, and nearly impossible to control once they get going. Coniferous forests are particularly prone to them.

But What Causes These Fires?

Controlled Fires Can Go Wrong

Prescribed burns can be incredibly useful when done right. They help manage overgrowth and keep ecosystems healthy. But even the most carefully planned burn can get out of hand. A sudden gust of wind or a shift in weather can turn a controlled burn into a wildfire. That’s why educating local farmers and restoration teams is crucial. Our team, for example, uses the FireAlert app to monitor fire risk. If the map is glowing red, it’s not the time to light any fires. Simple as that.

Accidental Agricultural Fires

Here’s one that surprises a lot of people: wildfires can start in moist conditions too. When tightly packed organic matter like hay decomposes, bacteria break down the sugars, releasing CO₂, water and heat. If the internal temperature rises above 55°C, it can trigger chemical reactions that produce flammable gas. Just one faulty spark or piece of hot machinery can ignite the whole stack.

So yes, it’s complicated and easy to overlook. That’s why spreading knowledge about safe agricultural practices should be the key step in restoring forests.

The Danger of Non-Native Trees

Tree-planting is often hailed as the ultimate climate solution, but it’s not that simple. Some non-native trees contain oils and resins that burn more easily than native species. If we aren’t careful, we risk planting fire-prone trees in restoration sites, increasing the chances of wildfires.

That’s why we’ve shifted our message from simply “planting trees” to restoring forests. Planting is only one piece of the puzzle. Real restoration means understanding the local ecology, selecting the right species, and managing the future risks like fire.

How We Prevent Fires

Our team in Yucatan gets annual fire training from CONAFOR (National Forest Commission of Mexico), learning how to cut firebreaks and fight fires safely. Firebreaks are 5-meter-wide strips of cleared vegetation. Mostly dry grass is cut by our dedicated team with machetes. These strips act as a buffer. When a fire reaches them, it runs out of fuel and fizzles out. We place these strips in high-risk areas like roadsides, where people are more likely to throw cigarette butts out of car windows.

We also rely on two alert systems:

1. FireAlert App – This notifies us of any heat anomalies in real time.
2. Local Tools – Custom-built to our specific region, these help us act fast and effectively.

When we get a fire risk alert, everyone drops what they’re doing and jumps into action. The team analyses wind direction to determine where the fire is headed. This helps to define where the fire-breakers need to be. Since our resources are limited and creating firebreaks with machetes is a laborious and time-consuming effort, we use all the tools that we can do keep the work efficient and concentrated on the most high-risk areas. Rangers stay inside the cleared strip to stamp out any patches of fire that try to cross using fire-beaters (giant rubber pads on wooden sticks) and backpacks filled with water.

The Real Risk: Young Forests

Mature forests are generally safe from wildfires. Their dense canopies block sunlight, keeping the forest floor shady and moist. But young forests—the ones we’re actively planting—are different. They have thick understories full of dry grasses and shrubs, perfect fuel for wildfires. And let’s be honest, it’s nearly impossible to machete away all that undergrowth by hand.

That’s why we believe education is key.

Intentional fires for illegal hunting, accidental sparks from farming, and slash-and-burn agriculture are all preventable. People just need to understand the risks and know what to do.

We’ve learned a lot. And we’re still learning. But if there’s one takeaway here, it’s this: most wildfires are caused by humans. Which means most wildfires can be prevented by humans too. Let’s be those humans.

So next time you hear about a wildfire, don’t just think “climate change.” Think about that cigarette butt tossed from a car window. Think about the trash pile set on fire and left unattended. Think about education, responsibility, and the small choices that could have made a big difference. We can’t control lightning, but we can control what we do before the storm.