Actually, it is my opinion that forest fires are part of a deliberate hard-green strategy to drive humans out of rural areas and into the cities. Our Hayman fire in CO last year makes it more difficult to get hazard insurance on rural residences. No insurance means no financing on sales, no construction loans etc.
All they have to do is prevent thinning for another twenty years and their dream of concentrating humans in cities will be nearly complete.
Of course one major terrorist attack in a major city will drive everyone back to the rural areas.
Personally, I think these fires were started by the ELF/ALF, it fits their MO, while on the other hand al-qaida's MO is to attack in more urban regions and cities.