Went through a year's worth of newspaper clippings on wildfires. Most of them had the same content--global warming is kicking our ass. But once I've said that, I'm not sure there is much more to say.

Most experts figure about half the increase in fires is due to climate change, and half to weather cycles.

Some interesting facts. 14% of homes in Oregon are in jeopardy from wildfires. There are 66 million dead trees in California. There are 70 million acres that are in danger. Every degree of temperature increase creates more lightning storms; rinse and repeat.

I inserted these facts and others throughout the manuscript.

Interestingly, there isn't a single policy where there aren't two sides fighting it out, which is part of the problem. Everyone sues everyone and nothing gets done.

But they can always do another study.

Today I'm thinking about writing a new scene, to include the Yarnell Fire. A movie is coming out next year called "Granite Mountain" which is about this disaster. It's the only new scene I'm contemplating writing in this draft, and it's to bring to life some of the dry facts of the chapter immediately proceeding and immediately after.

There is a great book here somewhere, and I'm clawing my way toward it. I challenged myself with this book and that's a good thing. But I may have overreached my skill level. I really wanted to get across the danger and size and the pathos of it all.

I'm not done yet. I'll just keep at it until I can't think of anything more to do.