Feds predict a fiery future for the western United States

[depakid]

A federal report released today confirmed what most people in the West already know -- the number and intensity of wildfires is increasing.

The report, prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency in conjunction with the U.S. Climate Change Science Program examined the consequences of global warming on public health. Not surprisingly, the conclusions were dark.

"It is very likely that heat-related illnesses and deaths will increase over coming decades,'' said the report, which was written largely by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The 284-page report also says every region of the country will be hit by worse health from heat waves and drought. It said all but a handful of states would have worse air quality and flooding. It predicts an increase in diseases spread by tainted food, bad water and bugs.

The impact on wildfires is especially strong.

"Forest fires with their associated decrements to air quality and pulmonary effects are likely to increase in frequency, severity, distribution, and duration in the Southeast, the Intermountain West and the West,'' the report concluded.

It added, "In general, these results suggest much of the western United States could face an increasing wildfire risk from climate change.''

This is troubling news from an environmental and public safety point of view. It also has a big impact on the federal budget. Battling wildfires is getting expensive, and the cost is increasing every year.

Last year, fighting fires took 49 percent of the Forest Service's budget. In 1991, it took only 13 percent. Fires now consumer more than $2 billion a year. More than 8 million acres burned last year.

That cost -- as well as the human and property toll -- will only increase as the climate warms, experts say.

"We are seeing more and more mega-fires, and state records for wildfire size are being set,'' Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., said earlier this year when his committee examined the issue.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/07/a_fiery_future.html
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Even in a near record snow year, there's a massive fire near Mt. Adams. Impressive that it could burn in an area where everything seems so moist and green. Hell, there were still snowbanks in the forest that blocked roads in the area (just west of Trout Lake) last week!

[Hydra]

1. Everything here was nice and green until 2 weeks ago

Because of the massive snowpack this year.

Now it's as dry as a bone, and the skies are thick with the smoke from California.

The chances of us getting as much snow in the coming season as the last are slim, at best.

Next year will indeed be hellish.

[depakid]

2. Apparently, the Cold Springs fire "fed" on beetle kill

Though I didn't notice much in the area a week ago, just before the fire. It was just lush up there. I said at the time to my Aussie SO (to my chagrin) what do you think the chances of a California like bushfire popping up here any time soon? Pretty slim, eh?

Two days later- this broke out.

Record snowpack, near record cold and wet through mid June- and still it burns.

[KT2000]

3. Wonder if the wind

is increasing as well. This has been a very windy year where I live in Washington and the fires in Eastern Washington are affected by some bad winds.