OSU experts weigh in on the "why" behind the flames

With much of the West in drought and the pull of heavy winds, when you mix in extreme heat -- experts say it can be the perfect recipe for disaster.

Your way.

Live in eugene connor mccarthy kezi nine news.

There's all kinds of debate about what's behind the flames.

Kezi 9 news reporter kennedy dendy spoke to experts today to hear*their perspective, after decades of tracking wildfire science.

Daniel: "this is a big wake up call."

After a mild wildfire season in western oregon --- three*major wildfires explode nearly at once.

While most of us are shell shocked... just trying to catch our breath -- literally -- scientists at oregon state's climate change research institute say they're not suprised.

In fact... they say it's a natural result of climate change.

Erica: "certainly the fire patterns across the west, this year have been anticipated for decades by people that study climate change and study wildland fire."

Erica (flie-shman) is the director of the oregon climate change research institute.

She, along with several others, say the rapid spreading of the wildfires was*not unexpected.

Erica: "the extent to which some of the fires, especially in california if we go beyond oregon are creating their*own weather that's*unusual but it's not*unheard of."

6 bridge: after speaking with three osu experts, what many have shared is this: things are only going to get worse if we choose to not be vigilant.

One of them says it's time to stop denying and start doing.

Daniel: "you need to be prepared.

You need to take preventative actions, and you need to get everyone else to do it too."

He says that 98% of every fire start gets put out.

But things can escalate at a moment's notice.

So we're looking at the 2% that got away daniel: "you can burn up thousands of acres in an hour, easily, even more.

You can't get in front of that.

There's nothing you can do on an offense to corral that."

He says doing*your part is