Submitted: Jun 26, 2008 - Hundreds of wildfires, caused by lightning strikes, continue to rage throughout California today. Why do wildfires spread so quickly, and what's the best way to try to fight the blaze?

In just seconds, a spark or even the sun's heat alone sets off an inferno. The wildfire quickly spreads, consuming the thick, dried-out vegetation and almost everything else in its path. What was once a forest…