A sprawling wildfire in northern Colorado nearly doubled in size again Monday, spewing plumes of smoke and forcing the evacuation of thousands.
The fire grew to 36,930 acres, authorities said Monday. It had been estimated at 20,000 acres Sunday night.
The Red Cross, Humane Society and other aid groups mobilized to help evacuees while at least 400 firefighters, aided by air tankers and helicopters from as far away as Canada battled the fire about 15 miles west of Fort Collins, Colorado.
As wildfire season flares up, here's a look at how some of these dangerous events start and how much damage they've caused in the past:
About Wildfires:
A look at the number of past fires, damage caused
Year                    Number of fires         Acres burned     Â
2000Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 92,250Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7,393,493
2001 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 84,079 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3,570,911
2002 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 73,457 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7,184,712
2003 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 63,629 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3,960,842
2004 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 65,461 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8,097,880*
2005 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 66,753 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8,689,389
2006 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 96,385 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9,873,745
2007 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 85,705 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9,328,045
2008 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 78,979 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5,292,468
2009 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 78,792 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5,921,786
2010 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 71,971 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3,422,724
* 2004 fires and acres do not include state lands for North Carolina
Source: The National Interagency Fire Center
What this report fails to mention is that wildfires are nature's way of renewing the forest getting rid of the dense undergrowth that stymies natural tree development. Problem is mother nature doesn't give a damn about houses and towns or air pollution that effects man.
If caused naturally. The hayman burn zone has yet to recover, because it burned so hot that it destroyed the buried seeds. But places like yellow stone just bounced right back
Armageddon is happening. Jesus in you we trust.
wasnt there a call for fires to be lit by islamic radicals.?
Dragons start 93.8% of most forrest fires. FACT!
We had ather one start in Colo. from some silverback shooting at gas cans. At least that one is contained.
Wow, and I thought these fires were because I was asking my God to make them come to existence and desolate the nation and people?
"Bill Maher was arrested in a Fort Collins bar early Monday morning and charged with impersonating a firefighter and theft." – It's about time that schmuck got what was coming to him.