biostudies-literatureJiang SStrategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, ChinaMOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)e2500042122https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12260520biostudies-literatureUnknown122(27)Fire is a pivotal aspect of human involvement in the carbon cycle. However, the precise timing of the large-scale human fire use remains uncertain. Here, we report a pyrogenic carbon record of East Asian fire history over the past 300,000 y from the East China Sea. This record suggests a rapid increase in fire activity since approximately 50,000 y ago, indicating a decoupling from the monsoon climate, and this pattern is consistent with fire histories in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Papua New Guinea-Australia regions. By integrating extensive archaeological data, we propose that the intensified global expansion of modern human and population growth, coupled with the rising demand for fire use during cold glacial periods, resulted in a significant increase in fire utilization from 50,000 y oProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of AmericaOnset of extensive human fire use 50,000 y ago.PMC1226052042176063XDB40010100Wan SKaboth-Bahr SHuang JLu ZJiang SHao XZhong YZhang STu HCheng ZLin AYang YBeaufort LCui GZhao DPei WfalseOnset of extensive human fire use 50,000 y ago.Fire is a pivotal aspect of human involvement in the carbon cycle. However, the precise timing of the large-scale human fire use remains uncertain. Here, we report a pyrogenic carbon record of East Asian fire history over the past 300,000 y from the East China Sea. This record suggests a rapid increase in fire activity since approximately 50,000 y ago, indicating a decoupling from the monsoon climate, and this pattern is consistent with fire histories in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Papua New Guinea-Australia regions. By integrating extensive archaeological data, we propose that the intensified global expansion of modern human and population growth, coupled with the rising demand for fire use during cold glacial periods, resulted in a significant increase in fire utilization from 50,000 y o2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jul2026-06-06T04:33:55.364Z2026-05-25T03:11:56.397ZS-EPMC122605204054989210.1073/pnas.2500042122