00:00Seven western states are on fire weather watch right now.
00:03And fire scientists say a single lightning strike could set off a fire siege across the driest terrain in decades.
00:10The National Interagency Fire Center and NOAA have issued elevated fire weather.
00:15Warnings across Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, and Idaho.
00:21Here is what makes today uniquely dangerous.
00:24Dry thunderstorms are sweeping in.
00:27Storms that produce lightning, but almost zero rainfall.
00:31Lightning strikes on critically dry fuel beds.
00:34Bone-dry vegetation, after months of below-normal moisture, can spark dozens of fires simultaneously.
00:41Relative humidity in some areas has dropped below 10%.
00:45Gusty outflow winds of 40 to 50 miles per hour will push any ignitions into explosive growth within minutes.
00:52California has already preemptively deployed air tankers and elite hotshot crews to forward positions.
00:59Fire managers are using the word siege.
01:01Fire managers are using the word siege.
01:01Fire managers are using the word siege.
01:01Fire managers are using the word siege.
01:02Fire managers are using the word siege.
01:02Fire managers are using the word siege.
01:02Fire managers are using the word siege.
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