When officials at the National Interagency Fire Service (NIFC) forecast the 2015 season, they made it clear that what we know of as “normal” in wildfires has shifted in recent years. Prolonged drought, larger and more difficult to manage fires, have become regular occurrences in the West.
But according to NIFC spokesperson Kari Boyd-Peak, recent conditions prompted the agency to lower the national preparedness level from a three to a two. That means there are plenty of resources available for the current fire conditions. She says so far this year, the main focus has been on Alaska, which accounts for 86 percent of the nation's total acres burned.
“We do have large fires in five geographic areas," says Boyd-Peak, "however most of those, with the exception of Alaska have all of their fires pretty much under control. They’re utilizing their own resources from their own geographic area and not needing a lot of outside help.”
She says the number of fires in states like Idaho have been about the same as usual, but they aren’t getting as big as in years past. Boyd-Peak says recent rains have accompanied lighting storms, keeping sparked wildfires at a manageable level.
The lower threat in the West has allowed the agency to send crews to Canada to help with an unusually severe fire season there.
But despite the slow start, Boyd-Peak says there's still plenty of time in places like Idaho for the fire season to pick up in intensity.
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