Wednesday, October 24, 2007
We're just getting in the way
Less wind today, but it was blazing hot. After another 12:30 a.m. wake-up call, we cranked out some live weather shots this morning. Then we got to talk to a couple of fire ecology/forecast guys. We learned a ton about the plants that grow round here.

Turns out they are pretty explosive, especially in heat and drought. Little tidbit to take hiking with you next time you're outside -- if the leaves have a strong smell, the vegetation probably burns like hell. Problem here is all this is part of the natural ecosystem, and we are just getting in the way.

-- By Rob Marciano, CNN Correspondent
Posted By CNN: 10:33 PM ET
  6 Comments
thank you rob keep up the good work on leting the caring american people know what is going on there I am very intrested in knowing what is going on and i love the whole cnn news coverage of the whole wildfires.......
Posted By Anonymous : 10:45 PM ET
If the leaves having a strong smell is an indication of its ability to burn, half my property would be gone in a fire. And unfortunately its that strong smelling plant life grows like wildfire too.

I think us humans are in the way of a lot of the ecosystem.
Posted By Suzanne, Knoxville TN : 10:47 PM ET
Im glad to hear you say it, Rob. Reporters are sometimes in the way. Let the police, fire and rescue workers do their thing.
Posted By Avery J , Greensburg, KS. : 11:15 PM ET
Rob:
Firstly Man is part of nature so saying we are in the way is a spurious argument at best. Secondly I grew up in California and the problem is that we have suppressed fires for the last 100 years when it is part of the cycle of wild land life; and now the extreme environmental movement will not even allow intelligent wild land management, as it might hurt a Nat catcher or other species. Do you realize Southern California is about to lose a major portion of our water due to the Sacramento Delta Smelt?
Posted By Dave Wright : 12:51 AM ET
Eric, San Diego, CA

It's true. Many plants in our coastal and desert chaparral are "designed" to burn in that the seeds are made to survive fires and in some cases be released by fires.
Posted By Anonymous : 4:45 AM ET
Yes, we are getting in the way, and have been getting in the way for the last 40 years , especially, as A.C.'s excellent documentary "{Planet in Peril" so beautifully documented. When are we going to learn to live in cooperation and interdependence with nature, before it's too late?
Posted By racetoinfinity : 6:04 AM ET
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