According to the latest report on air quality and climate from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), large-scale wildfires—known as megafires—have become significantly more common in recent decades. One example is the fire that struck the Gironde region in July, which destroyed 42,000 hectares of forest and forced the evacuation of 220,000 people. Since the 1990s, these massive fires have tripled in frequency worldwide and are estimated to cause an additional 100,000 deaths annually on average between 2010 and 2018. These numbers may have risen further in recent years due to global warming, which increases the likelihood of such events. Forest fires not only destroy ecosystems but also release harmful substances into the air. In addition to asphyxiating gases like carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and nitrogen oxides, these fires emit fine and ultrafine particles that are particularly dangerous to human health. These particles, which can be up to 30 times smaller than a human hair, can penetrate deep into the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and even cross the placenta or reach the brain. They may contain toxic substances such as carcinogens, dioxins, heavy metals, or pesticides used on treated pine trees. The health risks from wildfire smoke are especially severe for people with pre-existing conditions like asthma or cardiovascular diseases. Inhaling these pollutants can worsen their health, potentially leading to serious complications such as heart attacks or strokes. Johann Georg Goldammer, director of the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC), describes these deaths, which are often hard to directly link to fire smoke, as "silent deaths." According to the WMO, the impact of these fires has been most severe in sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe. A study published in 2025 in the journal NPJ Clean Air highlights that the excess mortality caused by wildfire-related air pollution has been particularly pronounced in these regions. As climate change continues to influence weather patterns and increase the frequency of extreme events, the health and environmental consequences of megafires are expected to grow even more significant.