Weird Weather Watch: Fire Near L.A.

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As I blogged before, dry conditions and long-lasting Santa Ana winds are making Southern California especially prone to fire. This weekend, a fire in Hesperia burned 2,500 acres. It is now 50 percent contained, and, if winds remain calm, should be fully contained by this evening.

But every fire makes the area’s weird weather prospects worse. Fires release carbon dioxide and methane, two key greenhouse gases. Firefighters use helicopters and trucks, which also release carbon dioxide. And lost acres mean fewer trees to absorb those gases.

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