Wildfires Spread Across US Amid Widespread Drought Conditions
An unusually hot and snowless winter has led to an early and intense start to the spring wildfire season across the western, central, and southeastern United States. Since January 1, nearly 19,000 wildfires have ignited nationwide, which is approximately 6,900 more than the average over the past decade. These fires have scorched nearly 1 million acres of land, affecting cattle grazing areas in the Great Plains and tourism in the Everglades. The demand for air tankers is high, as firefighting resources are stretched thin. The drought, exacerbated by a dry La Niña winter, now spans half the country, leaving vast areas of tinder-dry grass and brush vulnerable to ignition. 
