Publication Date April 19, 2018 | Business Insider

A fire in the US midwest is so big you can see it from space — two people have been killed in the blaze so far

United States
Wildfires West of Putnam, Oklahoma, USA. Credit: Pierre Markuse, Flickr
Wildfires West of Putnam, Oklahoma, USA. Credit: Pierre Markuse, Flickr

Wildfires have gotten worse in recent years because of climate change, and that trend is expected to continue as Earth's average temperature rises. In California, which suffered a spate of deadly wildfires in late 2017, 14 of the 20 largest fires in the state's history have occurred since the year 2000, according to Climate Nexus.

In the western US overall, the average annual number of wildfires that are bigger than 1,000 acres has more than doubled since 1970, according to Climate Central. The typical wildfire season has also stretched to be 2 1/2 months longer during that time