Five facts about California wildfires*

22 Oct 2007 20:49:44 GMT
Source: Reuters

Oct 22 (Reuters) - Five facts about California wildfires:

* California's parched climate, often desiccated brush, and Santa Ana
winds create the perfect recipe for wildfires. The Santa Anas begin in
deserts to the east and rush erratically through mountain passes and
canyons into Southern California communities.

* During Santa Ana conditions, fires can be easily ignited by nature, in
the case of lightning, or by humans. Some are arson, while others can be
sparked by machinery operated near dry brush, campfires or carelessly
tossed cigarettes. Downed power lines also pose a fire hazard. Once the
wildfires are whipped by the winds, they spread quickly and are
extremely dangerous and difficult to fight.

* "Fire Season" officially begins in early summer and lasts through
October, though officials say that as the state suffers through cyclical
drought conditions, they consider the season to be almost year-round in
Southern California.

* The worst California wildfire of the past decade was the Cedar Fire in
October of 2003, which killed 15 people and destroyed more than 4,800
structures, many of them houses, as it burned nearly 300,000 acres
(121,400 hectares) in San Diego County.