Early Utah wildfires point toward a season 'for the record books' msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Western fire season starts much drier than record 2020
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. Author: SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer Published: 8:02 PM PDT May 24, 2021 Updated: 8:02 PM PDT 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.
(AP) â As bad as last yearâs record-shattering fire season was, the western U.S. starts this year in even worse shape.
Despite some recent precipitation, the soil in much of the West is record dry for this time of year. 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.
âItâs like having gasoline out there,â 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 say. Rainfall in the Rockies and farther west was the second lowest on record in April, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Grim western fire season starts much drier than record 2020
May. 25, 2021 at 6:00 am
SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer
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.
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…