[ValerieUSA]

That satellite picture on the Drudge Report of the fires burning is sure dramatic.

[.38sw]

I haven't been to the Drudge report, but I think I know what satellite photo you're talking about. There is one on the front page of today's paper, showing the smoke columns. I'll check Drudge, and see if that's the same one.

[.38sw]

Yep. Same photo. You can actually see the flames at the base of the smoke columns. I wonder how high the flames are?

About 15 years ago, I was riding in a twin engine Cessna from Utah to Idaho when there were some huge fires in Idaho. I could see the smoke columns - they were going higher than the tops of the thunderclouds, probably about 35 - 40,000 feet, and absolutely huge. The convenction storms on the ground must have been massive.