American Notes THE WEST

Searing heat and extreme drought have turned Western forests into a species of kindling wood, and lightning strikes have provided the match. In Wyoming last week the so-called Mink Creek Fire, the biggest in more than 50 years, had burned to within a day or so of Yellowstone National Park after consuming 24,000 acres of prime grizzly-bear habitat. In Colorado one fire that torched 18,000 acres of deer, elk and antelope habitat before being contained was rated the biggest in the state's history. Other major blazes are burning in Oregon, Utah, South Dakota, Washington and Alaska. So far, almost 1.6 million acres have been lost, half a million in Alaska. Colorado has already recorded 164 brush fires, vs. a normal 130 in a full year -- and August, usually the worst month, remains to be endured.