Wildfires are more extreme in Europe and North America, but decreasing globally. Here’s why

It seems as if the world is afire this summer. But even as wildfires in Europe and North America grow more extreme, key worldwide burning statistics are at a record low largely because Africa and Asia are controlling fire more. Experts say these seemingly opposite trends are happening at the same time because of what humanity is doing to the planet. “It does seem like a paradox because we’re talking increases in fires, yet the global numbers have been going down and down. But they’re both…