LA Times' series of articles on wildfires

The Los Angeles Times on Sunday started a series of 5 articles on wildland fire. Here is how the paper describes the articles, written by two reporters:

The pair have worked for more than a year, traveling around the country and as far as Australia, to report on these stories, which include multiple sidebars, graphics, video and fiery photos as part of the package.

"A century after the government declared war on wildfire, fire is gaining the upper hand. From the canyons of California to the forests of the Rocky Mountains and the grasslands of Texas, fires are growing bigger, fiercer and costlier to put out. And there is no end in sight."

If the length of Sunday's article is any indication this is a massive undertaking. And some of the photos are amazing. The first two articles are available; links are below.

Big Fires, Big Business

By Bettina Boxall and Julie Cart

A century after the government declared war on wildfire, fire is gaining the upper hand. Wildland blazes are growing bigger, fiercer and harder to put out. Firefighting costs are rising, too, and much of the money is going to private contractors. »

Political Meddling and Costly "Air Shows"
By Julie Cart and Bettina Boxall

Fire commanders are often pressured to order firefighting planes and helicopters into action even when they won't do any good. The reason: Aerial drops of water and retardant make good television. They're a visible way for political leaders to show they're acting decisively to quell a fire. Firefighters call them "CNN drops."

Living in Fire's Embrace

By Bettina Boxall

More and more Americans are moving into fire-prone canyons and woodlands. The settings are picturesque but road networks are often inadequate. In a wildfire, everyone may not be able to get out safely.

Lost Landscapes

By Bettina Boxall

From Frederic Remington paintings to Gene Autry songs and John Wayne movies, the cultural imagery of the West is steeped in sagebrush. Now, a devastating cycle of fire, fueled by non-native plants, is wiping sagebrush from vast stretches of the Great Basin.

Stay and Fight

By Julie Cart

Wildfire is a pervasive danger in Australia, just as in much of the Western U.S. But Australians cope with the threat very differently than Americans do. Rather than rely on professional firefighters to protect their lives and property, many Australians do it themselves.