But an ominous new trend is reshaping forest fire behavior. Not only have the number and size of fires grown in recent decades, but fires are burning hotter and more intensely now, and causing more lasting damage to forests.

In the wake of a new Vermont law designating every fire chief as forest fire warden, some fire chiefs, including in Tunbridge, have opted not to accept the role at this time. Per Act 162 — an emergency management bill that went into effect July 1 — all fire chiefs in Vermont automatically assume the responsibilities of forest fire warden as a way to mitigate wildfire incidents.

Olympic National Forest fire crews are in the middle of responding to a fire happening just below the High Steel Bridge, close to Skokomish.

A forest fire is burning in the Four Mile drainage east of St. Regis. Authorities ask the public to avoid the area.

The U.S. Forest Service is temporarily closing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness as concerns grow over the multiple wildfires burning in northeastern Minnesota and an extremely hot, dry weather forecast into the upcoming week.

A suspected arson wildfire has scorched 800 hectares of France's iconic Fontainebleau forest amid an intense heatwave. Officials warn of a severe wildfire season.

For many years, forest management followed a simple, widely accepted rule. Whenever a fire broke out in the woods, it would be put out at once.

The U.S. Forest Service announced an emergency order Saturday banning campfires throughout the 4-million acre Superior National Forest as dry conditions and wildfires persist in the area. The ban goes into effect Sunday morning at 12:01 a.