FIREPOL embarks on a pioneering journey to unravel the intricate nexus between politics and wildfires across the Global South. Through a transdisciplinary multi-methods approach, we explore the influence of power, norms, societal contention and economic inequalities on the geographical distribution, public discourse and social impact of wildfires. Our goal is to foster a new understanding of wildfires, transcending conventional narratives, and identifying alternative pathways for their sustainable, equitable and politically engaged management as new geopolitical and climatic scenarios unfold.