Question: I want to know how bad this year’s fire season was.

Answer: The Oregon Department of Forestry released statistics this week, detailing fire’s impact on rural areas.

Jan. 1 through Oct. 28, 2008

• Lightning-caused: 378 fires burned 6,735 acres.

• Human-caused: 693 fires burned 1,091 acres.

• Total: 1,071 fires burned 7,826 acres.

Ten-year average

• Lightning-caused: 310 fires burned 20,908 acres.

• Human-caused: 764 fires burned 5,366 acres.

• Total: 1,074 fires burned 26,274 acres.