Wildfires in forests and grasslands in North America are particularly prevalent in the summer,  fall and winter, especially during dry periods with an increase in dead fuels and high winds. That period of time is called the wildfire season. Western U.S. fires tend to be more dramatic during summer and fall while Southern fires are hardest to fight in late winter and early spring when fallen branches, leaves, and other material dry out and become highly flammable.

Because of urban creep into existing forests, forest fires can often lead to property damage and has the potential to cause human injury and death.