8,000 is the average annual total count, usually spread across ~3months (July, Aug, Sept). The 1,100 number quoted is currently burning today. As of August 17 the count (active and extinguished) so far this year was up to 5,765.

The size of fires is really the staggering figure with 13.75 million hectares (137,500 km² roughly the size of Arkansas or Greece) burned so far, while the average annual total burned area is usually only 2.1 million hectares.

Maybe consider starting to play with Darktable. Get a sense if it is a viable alternative to support.