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 U.S. Wildland Fire Season Highlights**--Setting the Stage**
The big news for the 1998 wildland fire        season is how the well-known El Nino phenomenon affected burning conditions throughout the        world and the United States.  In the beginning of the year, conditions in the        northern part of  the nation were drier and warmer than normal, while the southern        states received above-normal precipitation. 

By early spring, these conditions had        reversed, with extremely dry conditions reported from New Mexico to Florida, and the        northwestern states experiencing cooler temperatures and increased rain.   Meanwhile,        Alaska, northeastern Montana and the Great Lake states reported very dry fuels.

In early May, hot temperatures and well-below        normal rainfall dominated southern states from New Mexico to Florida.  In addition,        smoke from the fires in Mexico and Central America        blanketed many southern states and significantly reduced visibility.**Florida        Wildland Fires****The        Rest of the Country**A wet winter followed by a dry        spring resulted in an abundance of dry, flammable vegetation in Florida.  By mid May        wildland fires were becoming uncontrollable, with the potential to create very dangerous        conditions for people and property.
By June 16, more than 50,000 acres had burned since        the beginning of the year, and nearly 100 homes, and several structures and cars had been        destroyed.

A multi-agency, nationwide effort to assist Florida fire managers followed as        firefighters, equipment, supplies, management personnel, and aircraft  responded to        the call. Altogether, 7,000 firefighters from 45 states were funneled into the state. 

Throughout June and July an estimated 45,000 people were evacuated as encroaching        wildland fires threatened the homes and property of Floridians.

In the end, 2,214 wildfires burned nearly 500,000 acres in the drought-stricken state.          Finally, in late July, seasonal rains ended the dramatic Florida wildland fire        season.Other southern states also        experienced extremely dry conditions and fought many large fires in May.  
Fire        managers in Texas were concerned with record high temperatures and record low rainfall        reported throughout the state.  They asked for the help of fire prevention and        education specialists to educate the public and reduce the number of human-caused fires so        they could focus their efforts on naturally ignited wildland fires.  (See Fire        Prevention/Education Teams in Action below.)

Seasonal rains finally brought relief to southern states in late July.  Northern        Texas continued to experience blistering heat and dry conditions into early October.

A flurry of wildland fire activity occurred in August and September as 100-plus degree        temperatures and dry conditions persisted for weeks throughout most of the West.   By        this time, the threat of wildland fires in the South had subsided and there were ample        resources available to fight wildland fires in the West.

Overall the U.S. wildland fire season was relatively slow compared to recent years.          See end-of-year statistics for comparisons.**Fire's        Natural Role****Fire        Prevention and Education Teams         in Action**Fire plays a critical role in        wildlands by recycling nutrients, regenerating plants and by reducing high concentrations        of fuels that contribute to disastrous wildfires.  Land managers recognize the role        that wildland fire plays in ecosystems and through careful planning and can manage        wildland fires for natural resource benefits.
During the 1998 wildland fire season,        several wildland fires were managed for resource benefits in Idaho, Montana and        Arizona.  As of December 18, 358 wildland fires contributed to resource benefits to        62,091 acres.   These figures represent fires on all federal land reported to the        National Interagency Fire Center.

See more details        about the use of these special teams in our on-line newsletter "Wildland Fire-- In        Its Place."**Every year hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of human-caused        wildfires cause millions of dollars in damage to public and private lands and natural        resources.  They also threaten human lives and destroy wildlife habitat.  Many        of these fires are caused by carelessness, and many are accidents due to a lack of        understanding about fire conditions and fire causes.  Wildland fire        prevention/education is one avenue for creating awareness among  the public and        educating them about fire-safe practices.****
Teams of specialists helped promote local wildland fire        prevention efforts in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Texas and Florida this        year.  These teams of specialists helped raise public awareness about fire dangers        and educate thousands of citizens on how they can prevent unwanted wildland fires. 
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