Scientists have found another alarming pattern in wildfires. Around the world, the conditions that brew massive blazes are...syncing up?

The extreme heat, high winds, and severe dry conditions that produce towering, fast-moving flames that advance by the acre are not just becoming more common; new research shows that these factors are increasingly arising in multiple regions at the same time, creating the conditions for simultaneous wildfires around the world.

The increasing threat from wildfires is also taxing for firefighters, who are not just facing more dangers to their lives and limbs, but also to their mental health. Field said the study shows that everyone should start preparing for the threat of simultaneous severe fire.

It’s clear then that we can’t simply rely on firefighting to cope with this problem.