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Grim western fire season starts much drier than record 2020
Scientists say the outlook for the western U.S. fire season is grim because it s starting far drier than 2020 s record-breaking fire year
By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer
May 24, 2021, 6:47 PM
• 6 min read
Time-lapse shows California wildfire growing
Evacuation orders were issued for some residents after the Palisades Fire spread over 700 acres in California. The Associated Press
As bad as last year’s record-shattering fire season was, the western U.S. starts this year’s in even worse shape.
Grim western U.S. fire season starts much drier than record 2020
SETH BORENSTEIN
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As bad as last year’s record-shattering fire season was, the western U.S. starts this year’s in even worse shape.
The soil in the West is record dry for this time of year. In much of the region, plants that fuel fires are also the driest scientists have seen. The vegetation is primed to ignite, especially in the Southwest where dead juniper trees are full of flammable needles.
“It’s like having gasoline out there,” said Brian Steinhardt, forest fire zone manager for Prescott and Coconino national forests in Arizona.
More Than 73% of California Suffering Extreme Drought, 70% More Than 2020 During Record-Breaking Fires
On 5/24/21 at 4:14 PM EDT
Over 73 percent of California is suffering from extreme drought, a 70 percent increase from 2020 when record-breaking fires burned in parts of the country, according to the Associated Press.
For 20 years, the western U.S. has suffered drought caused by climate change, and the soil is at its driest since 1895, according to UCLA climate and fire scientist Park Williams. A year ago, 3 percent of California was in a state of extreme or exceptional drought, and 4 percent of the state ended up burning during the 2020 fires. It means that the dice are loaded toward a lot of forest fire this year, said Williams. This summer we re going into fire season with drier fuels than we were at this time last year.
By SETH BORENSTEIN | Associated Press | Published: May 24, 2021 As bad as last year s record-shattering fire season was, the western U.S. starts this year s in even worse shape. The soil in the West is record dry for this time of year. In much of the region, plants that fuel fires are also the driest scientists have seen. The vegetation is primed to ignite, especially in the Southwest where dead juniper trees are full of flammable needles. It s like having gasoline out there, said Brian Steinhardt, forest fire zone manager for Prescott and Coconino national forests in Arizona. A climate change-fueled megadrought of more than 20 years is making conditions that lead to fire even more dangerous, scientists said. Rainfall in the Rockies and farther west was the second lowest on record in April, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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