Drought-Stricken West On Edge As Wildfire Season Approaches

[hatrack]

DENVER - "An ominous alignment of drought, high temperatures and millions of dead trees has sparked fears across the West that this year's fire season could be among the most devastating ever in the region. Public safety officials are pinning their hopes on a very wet April to prevent a repeat of 2002, when enormous blazes struck Colorado, Arizona and Utah. But so far little rain has fallen and much of the snow cover has melted.

In California, which last year had its biggest fires in modern history, all the elements are in place for another horrific season. Wildfires in Southern California consumed 738,000 acres, destroyed more than 3,600 homes and structures, and took 26 lives. Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties are listed as severe fire dangers this year.

In Colorado, soaring temperatures, bone-dry conditions and some early wildfires have firefighters on statewide alert. March, traditionally the snowiest month of the year, was the driest in nearly a century.

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Fire officials say an unusually warm March has led to rapid snow melt that has left many Western states with only about 60 percent or 70 percent of their usual snow pack. The danger zones include the Four Corners region where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet, along with wide swaths of eastern Washington, northern Idaho, western Montana, eastern Oregon and northern Wyoming."

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[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. Western Montana here - yes, I'm on edge

last summer a massive fire came within a few miles of my house, the whole area was evacuated... I'm an atheist praying for rain.

[woofless]

2. I know how you feel

We moved over here to the western slope of the Cascades from N. Idaho. We'll pray with you. Good luck.