Despite a 25% decrease in global land burned by wildfires over the past two decades, the number of fatalities caused by these events has significantly increased. This paradox is explored in a forthcoming book by geographer Pauline Vilain-Carlotti, titled *L'Épreuve du feu, habiter autrement la Terre*. The approaching summer in the Northern Hemisphere raises concerns about potential wildfires, with dozens already reported in France amid a heatwave. The study highlights a shift in wildfire patterns, suggesting fires are now occurring in more populated areas. This increased proximity to human settlements explains the rise in casualties, despite the overall reduction in burned land. The trend indicates wildfires are becoming more dangerous not because they are larger, but because they are burning where people live.