Fast-moving fires are rare, but also cause the most damage to structures

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University of Colorado Boulder fire scientist Jennifer Balch argues that widespread thinking about the wildfire crisis is wrong in some basic ways. In a 2024 paper, she and co-authors argued that it isn't the increasing size of fires that's threatening homes and lives: it's their speed .

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On average, the maximum fire growth rate jumped by just shy of 250% across the West, with even sharper accelerations seen in parts of California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, according to the 2024 paper.

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Because fast-moving blazes so often overwhelm the ability of structure and wildland firefighters to respond, Balch said that many of the most impactful solutions will focus on resilience, not emergency response.

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"We need to deal with it before a fire even starts," she added. "Because once you have a fast-moving fire, it's too late."