Thousands of America's Historic Landmarks Face Growing Wildfire Threat, Study Finds

More than half of the historic sites on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places are at risk from wildfires, a new study has found. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara studied over 100,000 listed sites and compared them to wildfire danger maps. They found that 3,446 sites face severe risk. The findings warn of a serious and growing threat to places that cannot simply be rebuilt.

The study was published in a journal called Scientific Reports. It found that more than a third of the at-risk sites — about 36 percent — are considered nationally significant. That means they matter not just to one town or state, but to the whole country. Most of the other at-risk sites are important at the state or local level.

Recent wildfires have already destroyed some famous landmarks. In January 2025, the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles burned down the Will Rogers Ranch House, and the Eaton Fire destroyed the Andrew McNally House. Later, the Dragon Bravo wildfire burned through Grand Canyon National Park and destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge, which was first built in 1927. Researchers said the buildings were completely lost, and it is not clear whether rebuilding them would bring back what made them special.

Lead researcher Caitlin Fong said these places matter deeply to people and communities. 'These places anchor community identity, collective memory, and national heritage,' she said. She warned that many historic places cannot be rebuilt after a fire. Once they are destroyed, she said, 'they are gone forever.'

Fire safety expert Kevin Feak said the wildfire threat is growing in areas that have not always worried about wildfires before. He explained that old historic buildings are often harder to protect because of the way they were built. Many have roofs that catch fire easily, gaps where embers can enter, and old materials that burn quickly. These features make it very hard to stop a fire once it starts.

Feak also explained that many buildings do not catch fire from direct flames. Instead, burning embers fly through the air and land on roofs or slip into small openings. Those embers can then start a fire inside or on top of the building. This makes wildfires especially dangerous for old structures.

The study found that most high-risk sites are in the western United States, especially in California, Oregon, and Colorado. But researchers also found new danger zones growing in the southeastern and south-central parts of the country. The threat is no longer just a western problem — it is spreading to new regions. Protecting these sites may require clearing plants nearby, strengthening buildings, and improving firefighting resources.

Climate change is making the problem worse, the researchers warned. Rising temperatures, more droughts, and more extreme fire weather are all expected to increase wildfire risk in the future. Other recent studies also show that fire seasons are getting longer and large, intense fires are becoming more common around the world. For America's most valued historic places, this is an urgent and growing danger.