Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

World Service,09 Aug 2026,22 mins

Is this a new era of wildfires?

The Climate Question

Available for over a year

Huge wildfires have been sweeping across Southern Europe and North America. Is climate change increasing the risk? And what can we do? Weather experts say the world is starting to see new types of wildfire – including enormous Pyrocumulonimbus fire clouds that spit lightning and black hail. These infernos can burn for more than a year. They can also spawn fire tornadoes, which move at more than 200 kilometres an hour, destroying everything in their path. The Climate Question hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar talk to John Vaillant, the author of “Fire Weather”, about how wildfires are increasing in intensity and frequency, and how they are burning in places they have never burned before. Got a question for The Climate Question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com Producers: Simon Watts, Diane Richardson and Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Dafydd Evans Editor: Simon Watts

Programme Website
More episodes