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Conditions right now are such that they’ve been described as “once in a generation”. Seems like an appropriate time to tell y’all about “The Big Burn”, where 3,000,000 acres (4,688 miles², 12,141 ㎢) burned in 1910.Permalink On twitter.com
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It started in Idaho, and consumed an area the size of Connecticut covering eastern Washington and western Montana in just two days. It was a firestorm.Permalink On twitter.com
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Firestorms are a thing. A REAL thing, not just euphemism for controversy. When conditions are right, winds + wildfires can create their own weather patterns, which cause lightning and even stronger winds, self-perpetuating the burns.On twitter.com
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We weren’t equipped to deal with it in 1910 & frankly i’m not convinced we would be in 2017 either. Anyway, read up on The Big Burn or, even better, watch this amazing American Experience documentary: pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/burn/ (and support your local public broadcaster)Permalink On twitter.com
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Shit I totally forgot to mention the Buffalo Soldiers. That 3,000,000 acres of fire would have been worse and specifically would have destroyed more towns if not for the sacrifices that the (according to reports) fearless, utterly badass buffalo soldiers made.Permalink On twitter.com