As many predicted in seasonal outlooks, overall wildfire activity has been moderate. The numbers have been lower than in previous years, with 30,911 fires and 1.1 million acres burned as of July 17, compared to 49,061 fires and 3.5 million acres last year and 53,697 fires and 2.5 million acres burned in 2000.

In Arizona, a June 17 human-caused fire broke out on Mt. Lemmon and burned 84,750 acres, forcing property owners to evacuate. Two days later, wind-fed flames devoured a pine forest ravaged by years of drought and a tree-killing beetle infestation. A total of 322 homes and cabins, seven businesses, and four other buildings were lost.

Wildfire also swept across the Fort Apache reservation, which was devastated last year by the Rodeo-Chediski fire. The fire was started by lightning July 13 east of last summer's flashpoint.

A day later, as many as 5,000 people were forced to flee at least 700 homes in Whiteriver and other reservation communities threatened by the blaze. The fire also burned within four miles of the point that would trigger evacuations in Pinetop-Lakeside and nearby mountain communities.

A state of emergency was declared in Gila and Navajo counties, freeing up $200,000 for firefighting efforts.

Another lightning fire began July 16 along the Colorado River, about 10 miles north of Needles, Calif. The fire is in San Bernardino County, across the river from Mohave Valley, Ariz.

In Southern California, a wildfire burned across 6,000 acres of steep, hilly brush along the San Diego-Riverside county line by the morning of July 18, prompting the evacuation of a Boy Scout camp. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported.

A brush fire near Reno, Nev., burned almost 2,000 acres near residential neighborhoods by July 15, but firefighters reduced the biggest threat to about 150 homes. The fire, which officials believe was human-caused, was 90% contained by that day.

In southern Utah, firefighters battled a 30,000-acre fire in the Henry Mountains that officials said probably was started by an all-terrain vehicle that had been driven off-road. The fire destroyed two cabins dating to the early 1900s and two vacant mining shacks.

In New Mexico's Gila National Forest, three lightning-caused fires have burned 92,800 acres. Another lightning fire in the state was 7,960 acres in size at presstime and uncontained.

In Colorado, dry conditions quickly spread several lightning-caused fires in the nation's largest archaeological preserve, Mesa Verde National Park, but no ruins appeared threatened. Two fires inside the park and one just outside the park were contained July 15. About 2,100 acres had burned.

Wyoming firefighters battled a blaze in the Medicine Bow National Forest that threatened 10 seasonal homes about 35 miles southwest of Laramie.

Two of the biggest wildfires in Washington state were on reservations, apparently started by bottle rockets. On the Colville reservation, 10,600 acres had burned, and the fire was only 50% contained as of late July 16. The wildfire on the nearby Spokane reservation was contained late July 15, but not before consuming 1,300 acres.

Wildfires also were active in Montana and Oregon, according to NIFC.