Big Bear Fire Prompts Evacuations

The U.S. fire season continues its destructive path, as the Big Bear Fire and its sister has prompted thousands of people to evacuate their homes this weekend in Southern California counties of San Bernardino and San Diego, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Big Bear fire had burned 16,000 acres in San Bernardino National Forest, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency.

The San Diego blaze had burned about 500 acres so far, according to the L.A. Times, and caused the evacuation of about 1,000 homes. Across the nation, 18 fires are burning just under 1.1 million acres, according to figures from the National Interagency Fire Center, and the L.A. Times. To date, 69,739 fires have burned 7,654,605 acres this year -- 31.7% more than the 10-year average.

Scientists have already suggested that the intensity and frequency of wildfires is related to changes in the climate, as drier and hotter conditions contribute to fire risk. That fire risk will only continue to grow if global warming continues unabated, some have warned.

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