WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — Wildfire activity is approaching record territory after a challenging summer across the United States.
USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey said wildfire activity has intensified again after the monsoon season helped keep some fires at bay.
“More recently, we’ve seen vast acreage burning across the northwestern United States. More recently, some of that wildfire activity expanding into California and the Great Basin as we’ve seen fuels curing in those areas and very little in the way of precipitation falling across the Far West in recent weeks. Do you combine high temperatures, low humidity levels, gusty winds, receptive fuels, and also occasionally some dry thunderstorms, lightning strikes, all factors in adding to this wildfire season, which is approaching record territory, unfortunately.”
The National Interagency Coordination Center reports more than 51,000 wildfires have burned nearly 8 million acres across the country this year.
