Large Wildfires Capable Of Creating Own Weather, Making Fire Fight More Dangerous

EL DORADO COUNTY (CBS13) — Large wildfires can often create their own weather systems, and the King Fire burning in El Dorado County is no different.

Fire behavior experts say a big wildfire is basically a chemical reaction that creates its own behavior and weather.

"More oxygen, bigger fire," said Kristi Schroeder with the U.S. Forest Service.

Outside the King Fire on Tuesday afternoon, wind gusts were relatively light, staying at 5 mph or lower. But inside the fire lines, speeds were around 25-30 mph.

"It's pulling the oxygen in, so it just makes it bigger and it creates its own weather," she said.

That creates a big problem for fire crews, especially when what's burning has very low water content in California's drought. Mix that with erratic weather within the fire, and no one can see anything other than smoke.