Drought-ridden area endures consequences of severe conditions: 'This is the fire year, not just the fire season'

Drought-ridden area endures consequences of severe conditions: 'This is the fire year, not just the fire season'

The area of the United States enduring the worst categories of drought expanded last week as several large wildfires blazed across the West. The percentage of the country in an extreme or exceptional drought (the two most severe levels) increased, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report. Nearly 6% of the contiguous U.S. is now in those two worst categories of drought. The portion of the country in a severe drought expanded slightly o…