Last summer's fires were among the nation's worst.
Experts believe more destructive fires are in our future.
Here's how to prepare for the coming fire season. I t often seemed the entire West was ablaze last summer. Fires burned more than 5 million acres, racing through forests, across grasslands, and even into homes and communities on the wildland edge. In terms of acreage burned and money spent on firefighting, the 2000 fire season was one of the worst ever. With a new season ahead, Westerners must confront the issues raised by these fires.