Wildfire isn*t a stranger to the South*s forests. It visits every year. But in the spring of 1985 it came early and stayed late. Before the season finally ended in mid June, it was, by any standard, the worst in more than 20 years. Between January 1 and June 12, over 55,000 fires across the South burned more than 1 million acres, an area nearly as large as Delaware. Fires destroyed 283 homes, damaged hundreds more, and left at least seven people dead. But these figures don*t tell the whole story. Most of the fires were concentrated in only eight states east of the Mississippi River and spread over a few days in four major outbreaks. Hardest hit were North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. These states accounted for nearly half the fires. Nearly all of the homes burned were in these three states as were four of the region*s fire related deaths. However, none of the southern states east of the Mississippi Riser escaped fire problems this spring. Published by Forest Landowners Association. Abstract reproduced by permission.