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Date: 23 September 2008 Time: 05:02 AM ET

This picture overlooks parts of the Okanogan National Forest that were not consumed by the 2006 Tripod Complex Fire. The brown-colored trees signal that the area has been attacked by the bark beetle. Dead, standing trees (brown) intermixed with live trees increase the chances of fire occurring, and reduces the chance of survival of the neighboring live, green trees. This is because standing dead trees act as dry fuels located in the canopy, which allow fire not only to burn on the ground, but also induces crown fire in the canopy.
CREDIT: Joanne Ho, College of Forest Resources, University of Washington