Interactive map shows the startling number of fires currently burning in US
The NASA-powered map also shows fires burning in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
Several regions of the U.S. are battling widespread fires. Dry conditions, due to low precipitation in March, and high winds have helped spread the flames.
Over the weekend, four new fires sparked in New Mexico and three in Colorado, alongside fires in Florida, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Texas.
Since January 1, 21,181 wildfires have destroyed more than 400,000 hectares of land south of the border, according to the government-run National Interagency Fire Center, a figure "well above" 10year average of 14,958 fires burning through 294,000 hectares, the agency says. That represents an increase of about 30 per cent.
The current fire situation is visible on a NASA-powered interactive map:
Map screengrabs courtesy of NASA/FIRMS
The Fire Information for Resource Management System US / Canada (FIRMS US/CANADA) is a joint project by NASA and the USDA Forest Service, providing satellite imagery to "identify the location, extent, and intensity of wildfire activity and its effects," the agency says on its website.
A screengrab taken on April 28 shows extensive fires across the U.S., with significant activity in the Southwest.
In Canada, small pockets are burning on the Prairies, in Ontario, and Quebec. So far this month, some 68 fires have been reported in B.C. alone, prompting officials to urge residents to take preventative measures ahead of wildfire season, including clearing gutters and removing branches from residential roofs.
Map screengrabs courtesy of NASA/FIRMS
Homeowners are also encouraged to invest in drought and heat resistant plants and establish a 1.5-metre "non-combustible zone" around residences, ensuring there are no flammable materials, like plants or debris, within the designated area.