Zombie fires ‘may account for third of total burn in arctic forests’

The wildfires, also known as overwintering fires, are becoming more common due to climate change, experts believe

“Zombie fires” continue to smoulder beneath the frozen surface through the winter and then flare up in the spring (PA)

So-called ‘zombie fires’ that continue to smoulder beneath the frozen surface through the winter and then reignite in the spring could account for up to a third of the total burn area in arctic forests, scientists think.

The wildfires, also known as overwintering fires, are becoming more common in forests across Canada, Alaska and Russia due to the warming climate.

Experts think that the increasing temperature allows the fires to burn deeper into the soil and sustain them over the freezing winter months.