Since this fire began, the Mustang Complex wildfire on the
Idaho/Montana border has burned more than 1,106,545 acres in Idaho alone. The
cause of the fire was a lightning strike back in late July. The fire has been
difficult to fight due to steep terrain and thick smoke (pictured below). The
fire has been exacerbated by the plentiful supply of dead and downed lodge pole
pine trees found at higher altitudes. Idaho is no stranger to wildfires, having
sizeable fires at least every other year. In 2007 the East Zone Complex burned
approximately 315,000 acres alone, not including the other fires that occurred
that year.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=79021
