The fires rage

NAPA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, 18 AUGUST

The West Coast of America experienced the worst wildfire season in at least 70 years this summer. The blazes wiped out around three million hectares of forest (an area 1.4 times the size of Wales) and burned through residential areas like this one near Lake Berryessa in California.

Now the fires have subsided, scientists are working to understand their impact. Fires are not all bad news; some species thrive in the aftermath, as fresh growth and newly cleared areas provide feeding grounds for grazing animals. But invasive species can also creep in during a forest’s recovery, preventing young trees and bushes from establishing, which will have knock-on effects for the region’s wildlife.