A new study finds that an increase in vegetation throughout the desert has led to bigger and more persistent fires in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert.
Creeping invasive plants like red brome, stinknet and buffelgrass coupled with wet winters have led to abundant fuel source for fire in Arizona. That’s according to a study conducted by Northern Arizona University and the Next Generation Sonoran Desert Researchers. The study was published this week and found that prior to the last 20 years, fires in the desert didn’t have enough fuel to burn for very long.
"We’ve always had occasional wet winters. It’s one of the things that drives the wildflowers and makes the desert beautiful. But with the preponderance of invasive species, they’re now expanding and creating larger and more fires," said Next Generation director Ben Wilder.
Controlling the invasive species before they take root will be key to reducing the damage from future fires, he said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The story has been updated to correct Ben Wilder's quote about the invasive species creating more fires.
