The 2005 fire season is predicted to be above normal due to a variety of factors, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, in Boise, Idaho. Although above-average spring rainfall delayed the fire season in the Northwest, wet conditions in other areas fostered vegetation growth, providing ample fuel for late-summer fires.

In eastern Washington, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming, above-normal wildfire potential is expected through August. In the southwestern states, Great Basin, and southern California, abnormally high grass and brush growth has created a significant increase in wildfire potential in the lower elevations. A weaker than normal monsoon also could result in less precipitation and above-normal temperatures across the West later in the summer, NIFC warned.

By mid-July, fire season was well underway in the West. On July 12, alone, 134 new fires started, with large blazes reported in Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington. At that time, more than 34,282 fires had been recorded for 2005, encompassing more than 3 million acres. Although these figures are slightly lower than on the same date last year, the number of acres burned is much higher than the 10-year average of 1.95 million acres.