This thread collects and addresses popular wildfire myths that are currently circulating the internet like ... wildfire. Please free to add to this thread @LeroyWesterling @johnfocook @PeterGleick and other experts.

Myth #1: the wildfires stop at the border.
Truth: By definition, maps based on US federal data don& #39;t show fires outside US borders; but it doesn& #39;t mean they don& #39;t exist. Here& #39;s a US map (left) and https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇨🇦" title="Flagge von Kanada" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Kanada"> map (right). We do a bit better with recognizing we& #39;re part of a continent https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😁" title="Grinsendes Gesicht mit lächelnden Augen" aria-label="Emoji: Grinsendes Gesicht mit lächelnden Augen">

Myth #2: as there& #39;s less wildfires in Canada than the US *at the moment* that somehow proves climate change isn& #39;t real
Truth: Other times there will be more: that& #39;s weather, a single day, week or year. Climate is the long-term trend over decades. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnMJedLHjpY">https://www.youtube.com/watch...

Myth #3: wildfire can be EITHER arson or climate change but not both.
Truth: most wildfires in the lower 48 states are human-ignited but they are burning *much greater area* due to hotter, drier conditions + vegetation as a result of climate change.

Myth #4: the only reason wildfires are burning more area is because of poor forest management (and "raking" would fix that)
Truth: Forest management absolutely plays a role; but "raking" doesn& #39;t work and climate change is making it a lot worse. Read: https://twitter.com/ErinEARoss/status/1305303927936544770?s=20">https://twitter.com/ErinEARos...

Myth #5: those alarmists claim climate change is responsible for things that have always happened naturally
Truth: climate change is - according to the US military - a threat multiplier. It takes naturally-occurring events and makes them WORSE. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT4aZzjbl3w">https://www.youtube.com/watch...

Finally, for a thorough review of the myths about how climate isn& #39;t changing, or it is but it& #39;s the sun or volcanoes or natural cycles, see: https://twitter.com/KHayhoe/status/1032652591841386497?s=20">https://twitter.com/KHayhoe/s...

And for a global perspective on wildfire--since, as our 2009 PLoS paper showed, climate change may actually decrease fire in some ecosystems and that& #39;s not necessarily a good thing either ( https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0005102">https://journals.plos.org/plosone/a... )--read @carbonbrief& #39;s excellent explainer: https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-how-climate-change-is-affecting-wildfires-around-the-world">https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer...

Here& #39;s an addition on the arson myth - according to CalFire, 7% of California& #39;s large fires were known to be deliberate. The rest were primarily accidental human ignitions + some lightning and some unknown. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/How-California-s-biggest-wildfires-ignited-13907244.php">https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/a...

Myth #6: the wildfires and/or the smoke and/or climate change is being caused by a secret military experiment
Truth: The only geoengineering happening right now is at miniscule scales and is well-documented. There are no secret expts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7Bfr2Vzxbs">https://www.youtube.com/watch...