Wildfires fanned by invasive grass species

[dipsydoodle]

New research indicates that a species of invasive grass is making wildfires in the western US larger, hotter and more frequent.

Scientists say that a variety called cheatgrass dries out and burns more rapidly than other vegetation.

They believe it has fuelled almost 80% of the largest fires in the west over the last 10 years.

Researchers are looking at a range of solutions including using a fungus to attack the grass seed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20612161

[byeya]

1. In SW Utah the cheat grass was totally dead and dried by the middle of August. This was a desert

biome so I can imagine that cheat grass would mature later in cooler and moister environments.

Cheat grass is easy to ignite, burns rapidly, and consumes itself within hours. It's a good igniter of other fuels.

It's been in the environment for probably a century.