1.   As in the wake of every major wildfire, local elected officials moved to beef up hillside building regulations.

2.   But the nine major wildfires crunching across Colorado made for an extraordinary start to a fire season.

3.   For residents of Idaho and Montana, the absence of major wildfires this summer is good news, except for out-of-work firefighters.

4.   Heavy winter rains spurred lush growth in the region, creating a risk for major wildfires this summer.

5.   Two major wildfires already have erupted in West Texas this spring, consuming thousands of acres in Presidio and Edwards counties before they were extinguished.

6.   Over the weekend two other major wildfires in western Colorado were brought under control.

7.   Meanwhile, one other major wildfire in the state had been contained and a third was close to being brought under control.

8.   The blaze was the fifth major wildfire in Colorado this season.

9.   They say the availability of so many firefighters and equipment is due to a lack of other major wildfires in the West.

10.   Renee Snyder of the National Interagency Fire Center said eight major wildfires were raging in the states of Oregon and Washington following dry, hot weather.