Arctic fires are thawing permafrost and releasing stored carbon. Here's what researchers are doing.

Wildfires in the Arctic and boreal forests are burning more often and more intensely, and that is accelerating the thaw of permafrost that stores roughly 1.5 trillion tons of carbon. A new MIT Technology Review report explains how fire removes the insulating soil layer, allowing frozen ground to thaw deeper and faster. In Canada, 2023 wildfire emissions exceeded the country's entire fossil fuel emissions, a sign that these fires are becoming a major carbon source rather than a sink. Researchers are now studying whether aggressive fire suppression in remote areas could protect carbon-rich permafrost. The North Fire initiative, backed by Woodwell Climate Research Center and partners, is examining controlled burns, early detection, and even sending firefighters specifically to guard carbon stocks. A 2022 study suggested this could be cost competitive with wind or solar per ton of CO2 avoided. But agencies currently focus on protecting life and property, not carbon, so the idea would need new mandates and funding. The article lays out the trade-offs clearly.