Wildfire displacement is on the rise: 2025 sends a clear warning

We're only halfway through the year and internal displacement due to wildfires has already reached its highest level since 2020.

From the United States to Korea, from Canada to Türkiye and Greece, the data is clear: wildfires are becoming more frequent, more intense, more widespread, and they are forcing more people from their homes.

• In January, Los Angeles County alone saw 260,000 displacements due to winter wildfires - nearly as many as the US total for all of 2024.
• In March, Korea faced its largest and deadliest wildfire season, displacing nearly 40,000 people.
• In May and June, fires spread through Manitoba and Saskatchewan, triggering 42,000 evacuations and shifting Canada's wildfire geography from the typically most affected western provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.
• In June, Türkiye experienced its largest-ever wildfire displacement event, with 50,000 people evacuated from the Izmir region and Greece recorded 15,000 displacements in Attica, the metropolitan region of Athens, which has been hit every summer in recent years.

Shifting wildfire trends

In countries where longitudinal data is available, several trends are emerging: displacement linked to wildfires is not only increasing in scale, it's also occurring earlier in the year and affecting wider areas.

• Wildfire displacement is increasing globally: Global wildfire displacements have already surpassed the total for all of 2024, reaching their highest level since 2020. Based on preliminary data, wildfires have triggered 496,000 internal displacements, or forced movements of people, by 26 July 2025. As the summer months progress, this number is likely to grow further.
• Wildfires are no longer seasonal: Large-scale fires are now occurring beyond the traditional July-September window in the northern hemisphere. Large displacement events in January (US), March (Korea) and June (Türkiye) highlight how wildfires have become a year-round threat, driven in part by hotter, drier weather and prolonged droughts.
• High-risk areas are repeatedly affected: The State of California (US), the province of Izmir (Türkiye), and the region of Attica (Greece) remain epicenters for wildfire-related displacement. This is in part due to a mix of geographic exposure and urban encroachment into wildland areas.

Understanding the impacts of wildfire displacement

While pre-emptive evacuations save lives, the human cost of displacement is staggering: Homes and land are lost. Jobs and income are interrupted. Communities are separated.

Most people can return quickly. Some face months or even years of displacement. Others are forced to relocate permanently due to destroyed housing, health risks, high reconstruction costs and the growing risk of future wildfires. The emotional and financial toll can also be severe.

Using displacement data to strengthen preparedness and responses

Wildfire displacement is on the rise, but in most parts of the world, data is still not systematically collected. This leaves critical gaps in disaster preparedness, response capacity and recovery.

With accurate, timely data on internal displacement, governments and their partners can:

• Measure displacement: Monitor wildfire displacement to reveal patterns, trends and drivers, identifying vulnerable areas and communities.
• Address displacement: Integrate displacement data into early warning systems, risk reduction plans and emergency response strategies to prevent displacement where possible and reduce its impacts when it occurs.
• Unlock financing for solutions: Leverage data to inform investments and strengthen funding proposals for policies and programmes that reduce wildfire risks and support lasting solutions.