The west's deadly fields of wildfire

摘要

The big picture was awesome: 60 to 70 major wildfires burning across nearly 750,000 acres in 11 Western states, 20,000 firefighters working to contain those fires at a cost of about $8 million a day, scores of new fires ignited by lightning every night and all of it adding up to the hottest, most destructive summer season in 50 years. But none of those high-altitude facts can convey the sheer terror of being trapped in a 70-foot wall of flame moving faster than a man can run—which is exactly what happened to a four-man crew battling a big brushfire in Riverside County, Calif, last week. All four suffered second-degree burns and were hospitalized—two in serious condition. "From what I understand, this fire came so fast it was just unbelievable," said Joanne Evans of the state Department of Forestry. "When you get downdrafts, they can take the fire and shoot it down a hill in a second, almost."