00:00There is a hidden consequence of the Iran War that most Americans have not considered.
00:04And it could make this wildfire season far more deadly.
00:08Aerial firefighting is the most critical tool for containing fast-moving wildfires,
00:13especially across the western and southeastern United States.
00:16But these aircraft run on the same jet fuel that has surged nearly 50% in price since the Iran
00:22War began.
00:23Air tankers, helicopters, and air attack platforms burn thousands of gallons of fuel on every mission.
00:30Now, the cost of deploying these aircraft has risen dramatically over the past six weeks.
00:35And it is putting serious pressure on the budgets of state and federal fire agencies,
00:41exactly when dangerous fire weather conditions are developing across multiple U.S. states.
00:46The Forest Service and several state fire agencies are already reporting budget strain due to the fuel surge.
00:52Some contractor operators have quietly warned they may reduce available aircraft if the situation does not improve.
01:00Meanwhile, fire weather conditions are getting worse.
01:02The southeast faces critical fire danger today.
01:05The southwest is entering its driest weeks of the year.
01:09This creates a dangerous triple threat.
01:11Rising fuel costs, reduced aerial firefighting capacity, and worsening fire weather.
01:17Together, it could make the 2026 wildfire season one of the most dangerous on record.
01:23For millions of Americans living near wildland urban interface zones across 30 states,
01:28this is the moment to review your evacuation plan,
01:31because help may be slower to arrive this year.
01:34Back to the
01:34direct fire
01:34You
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