AP: Arizona blaze part of new era — more big wildfires

[marmar]

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer – Wed Jun 15, 3:33 am ET


WASHINGTON – The fires searing parts of the West are an eerie echo of the past, a frightening reminder of a once terrible danger that had been held largely at bay for decades.

The number of large wildfires has been rising for roughly the past 25 years, and they are lasting longer amid fire seasons that also last longer.

Is it global warming? Experts won't say that, pointing instead to a variety of factors ranging from local weather to insect infestations to more people living and camping out in the woods.

The Arizona fire, with almost half a million acres destroyed, makes it one of the largest since statehood in 1912. A related blaze is under way in New Mexico, another fire has forced people to evacuate parts of Colorado, and the National Weather Service has issued "red flag" warnings — indicating conditions favorable to wildfires — for parts of Texas, Florida and Alabama. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110615/ap_on_sc/us_sci_fire_science

[SpiralHawk]

1. "It's global warming alright." - An Expert Who Will Say

"Only paid propagandists (R) and Suckerpuppets (R) would deny reality and say otherwise."

- An Expert Who Will Say