Reuters Graphics: “Fires are growing faster in the western United States. The fastest of them – termed “fast fires” – often erupt near towns and account for most structural wildfire damage according to researchers who analyzed over 60,000 fires from 2001 to 2020. Fast fires grow about 4,000 acres or more on their fastest day, at least two football fields a minute. That single-day growth threshold for a “fast fire” is even higher in California at almost four football fields a minute. Humans and our infrastructure start nearly all of the fires that threaten our homes. Exactly why fires become fast is a developing area of research, but weather and fuel conditions can feed the speed. Of the 20 fastest fires between 2001 and 2020, 16 destroyed structures and all but one fire came within 2.5 miles of a property. Many fast fires threaten structures The fastest LA fires and overall top 20 fastest-growing fires across the continental US from 2001 to 2020. A structure is considered exposed when it is within 2.5 miles of the fire perimeter even if it was not damaged…