2006 is a record breaking year for wildfires across the country. By the end of September there had already been 82,599 wildfires, burning 8,968,517 acres... topping the record number of acres burned, which was set last year. Records for wildfires have been kept since 1960.

Also, summer 2006 was the second warmest June to August period in the United States since records began in 1895. And, as of the end of August, 2006 is the warmest year on record for the continental United States.