How and why we name wildfires in the US

The video above shows the Diamond Fire which quickly grew to more than 2,500 acres and led to the evacuation of more than 1,000 people in Scottsdale, Ariz. But why does this wildfire have a name?

We give names to plenty of natural disasters, including hurricanes. While the National Hurricane Center releases a list of hurricane names each year, how we name wildfires is a little less organized.

Wildfires can occur at any time of year in the U.S., but often ramp up during the summer months. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the U.S. sees an average of 70,000 wildfires each year. That's a lot of fires to keep up with. So why do they get names?

Since wildfires can grow quickly, they are given names to make it easier for residents and firefighters to keep track of. Often, the first firefighters on scene are the ones who name the blaze. Naming conventions can vary between firefighting agencies and jurisdictions. In some cases, local authorities or fire management teams may have their own unique systems for naming wildfires.

Generally, wildfires are named for their geographic location. Nearby landmarks, like roads, lakes, rivers and mountains, can also be used when naming a fire.