As the Arctic heats up, an invisible danger is quietly smouldering beneath the earth zombie fires. Unlike surface wildfires, these fires burn slowly under the soil, survive freezing winters, and reignite months later, releasing massive amounts of greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants.
Zombie fires have been increasingly spotted in northern regions like Canada, Alaska, and Siberia, often igniting in peat-rich soils where organic matter accumulates over time. Scientists now believe that these underground blazes could worsen as climate change dries Arctic soils and thaws ancient permafrost, unlocking centuries-old carbon.
According to researchers from The Ohio State University, zombie fires are hard to detect and even harder to extinguish. They produce little surface smoke but can smoulder for months, making them difficult to monitor using conventional satellite tools.
These fires don’t just stay in remote forests their impact travels far. When smoke and fine particles enter the atmosphere, they affect air quality thousands of kilometres away. Toxic emissions like carbon monoxide, methane, and PM2.5 reach urban cities, worsening respiratory illnesses, increasing hospital admissions, and posing severe risks to the elderly, children, and those with asthma or heart conditions.
Professor Patrick Louchouarn, one of the leading voices on the issue, warns that climate-fuelled underground fires are not just an Arctic problem they are a global public health threat. He recalls the 2023 summer when wildfire smoke from Canada blanketed U.S. cities like Philadelphia and New York in thick haze, causing air quality to plummet and forcing people indoors.
The rising intensity of such fires also coincides with growing plastic pollution worldwide, compounding environmental stress. With plastic waste adding to the problem of soil degradation and toxic emissions during wildfires, experts argue that phasing out single-use plastics must be a priority. India has already set an example by banning 19 single-use plastic items using a scientific, criteria-based approach.
To reduce plastic usage further, authorities and industries are pushing for alternatives like cloth bags, paper straws, biodegradable packaging made from cornstarch or bamboo, and reusable containers. These not only cut down plastic pollution but also prevent harmful microplastics from entering soil and water systems, which have been linked to hormonal disruption, fertility issues, and even increased cancer risk in humans.
As zombie fires and pollution cross borders with ease, scientists stress the need for international coordination, early-warning systems, and public health preparedness. But the first step, they say, is awareness. These fires may be hidden, but their consequences are anything but.