Widespread and worsening drought in much of the West prompted wildfire season’s high-risk period to arrive at least a month early.
“We have active large fires in all Western regions,” National Interagency Fire Center meteorologist Nick Nauslar said in a multi-agency news conference July 1.
Prolonged extreme heat continues to bake built-up grasses and other fine fuels that dried early during an unusually warm spring. Some timber also dried early.
Source: Wildfire officials: Peak risk arrives early as drought expands | Timber | capitalpress.com