Southern States Face Increasing Risk For Wildfires

Fire is as common to Western states as the drought-dried shrubs that feed the flames. Wildfires, long considered a problem exclusive to the West, now threaten many other parts of the country as extreme weather becomes more commonplace and more people live in areas at risk for wildfire. Now, dry conditions are putting Southern states at risk for more fires. Tennessee has had more than 1,400 fires this year on state and private lands. An additional 62 fires were reported on federal lands owned by the Forest Service and National Park Service.