A forecast for the American West: hot and hotter
Thursday, October 4, 2012 - 02:30
in Earth & Climate
Climate change will mean more and larger fires in 11 Western states.Over the summer and on into the fall, images of flames, smoke plumes, firefighting teams and ruined homes have been on replay, and with good reason: As of Aug. 31, this year tied the record for total acreage burned by wildfires, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. More than 8.4 million acres have burned to date — an area larger than the state of Maryland up in flames.