Wildfire out west has become an annual disaster, destroying forests and homes. More than a million and a half acres have burned this year across 13 western states, the highest year-to-date on record.
How likely is it Indiana could soon face similar risk?
Darren Bridges, state fire coordinator at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, said chances of a major fire remain low.
“As far as are (wildfires) more aggressive or bigger, no, I don’t really think so. We’re seeing pretty much numbers that we’ve seen for years,” Bridges said.
For one thing, Indiana forests are considerably different from western woodlands such as Yosemite National Park. High-altitude western forests are historically less prone to fire but burn more fiercely. In contrast, eastern forests have adapted to regular low-intensity wildfires. Aside from the condition of forests, Bridges said natural fire starts are far more common out west.