Wildland firefighting is part of my job duties but I do not claim to be a fire science expert.
1. Fire behavior is driven by weather, fuels and topography. The weather and fuels can change day to day and affect the rate of speed and intensity. They can “spot” miles ahead of the main fire. If there is a large fire in the region than the conditions are right for more severe fires and truth be told there is always very little information known about what the fire is doing and what is known is a couple days old. I would not hike in that region if there were very active fires.
2. See #1
3. See#1
4. Smoke can travel hundreds of miles so that might now be a good indicator. If you can see smoke it’s past time to get out not go into the backcountry.


Edited by SC Forester (06/13/12 08:54 PM)