Normally, fires don’t come around more often than every 30 years and
often much longer. The lack of fuel in recently burned stands helps
regulate that frequency.

Climate change is breaking those rules, Whitman said.

“We’re experiencing more hot, dry windy days – the main trigger for
large fire years. As more years experience more extreme fire weather,
(the blazes) are able to overwhelm that resistance that recently burned
sites have.”