…While Eastern states flood, many Western states are going up in flames. In 2012, more than 9.2 million acres burned in wildfires – an area larger than the state of Maryland – making it the third-worst fire year in U.S. history. In 2012, the Forest Service overspent its available fire suppression budget by $400 million, as it has almost every year for the last 20 years, transferring millions of dollars away from other land management projects. The costs are not only borne by the federal government; Wyoming and Montana spent more than $90 million of state money fighting wildfires in 2012.
Climate models show a likely increase in fires in coming years. A study by Headwaters Economics found that even a one-degree rise in temperatures would like lead to a 300 percent increase in acres burned, and a 100 percent increase in fire suppression costs…