WORLD WATCH

Our collection of amazing images from around the world.

A tanker dumps fire retardant over a hazy, smoke-covered Juniper Hills in California. The Bobcat Fire is one of the largest blazes ever in Los Angeles County, raging across nearly 40,500 hectares in just two weeks. This year has seen some of the worst wildfires in US history, with blazes ravaging Oregon, California and Washington State. California has already seen six of the 20 largest wildfires ever in this year alone, devastating 1.25 million hectares across the state. Apocalyptic images have been shared across social media, with the bright orange haze creating eerie scenes across cities.

A combination of unusual lightning storms and searing heatwaves were the cause of many of the fires, while others were accidentally ignited by humans and stoked by dry winds. Wildfires are a natural part of the ecological life cycle, allowing native trees to propagate. However, global warming has seen extreme wildfires rapidly increasing every year, with scientists predicting the number of extreme fire days in California to jump by 20 per cent in the next 15 years. With the fires destroying thousands of homes, some experts are calling for residential construction to be halted in high-risk areas. “Things have changed dramatically and the liveability of fire-prone areas is coming into question,” says environmental scientist Dr Paige Fischer. With the rise in air pollution caused by the fires, health experts have seen an increase in health issues, such as asthma, kidney problems and heart attacks.