As drought-prone areas experience some of the driest seasons on record ever, both the Southern and Northern hemispheres have witnessed some of the worst wildfires in years in 2009. This weekend a massive wildfire was knocking at Los Angeles’ gates, but California, the Northwest and even Alaska have been getting lit all summer, as have parts of the East coast where fires are rarer, not to mention areas throughout Europe, Africa and fires earlier this year in Australia. These 20 Sweltering Photographs of Wildfires chronicle some of the biggest fires of 2009.

Southern California

Homes on the outskirts of Santa Barbara went up in flames earlier this summer.

Oregon

British Columbia

Alaska

Montana

Colorado

South Carolina

Florida

Near Athens

Near Capetown

Australia