Wildfires in permafrost regions, intensified by climate change and shifting fire regimes, are increasingly disrupting permafrost systems. At the same time, the presence of permafrost amplifies the extent and complexity of wildfire impacts across the Permafrost Critical Zone (PCZ). In boreal forests and landscapes with sporadic or isolated permafrost patches, wildfires rapidly increase ground temperatures and accelerate permafrost thaw, primarily due to vegetation loss and the combustion of insulating organic layers. These fire-induced changes can initiate irreversible processes. …Understanding the complex interactions and cascading effects between wildfires and permafrost thaw remains a major challenge. Unlike wildfires in non-permafrost regions, which are mainly driven by fuel loads and organic soil depth, fire behavior in the PCZ is additionally shaped by active layer thickness, near-surface permafrost conditions, and snow cover. These elements interact with cold-adapted vegetation and organic soils, influencing fire ignition, intensity, spread, and post-fire recovery.