This is an area roughly equal to the size of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
Wildfires affect most areas of the U.S. with wildlands.
More than 39 million acres of national forests in the interior West face a high risk of fire, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense . Most wildfires on federal lands are small. Because of these conditions, today's fires tend to be larger, burn hotter, and spread farther and faster, making them more severe. At least 860 structures, mostly family homes, were destroyed in fires during the 2000 season. There is a lot that homeowners can do to help save their homes from wildfires, such as constructing the roof and exterior structure of a dwelling with non-combustible or fire resistant materials such as tile, slate, sheet iron, aluminum, brick or stone.