The data on the total area affected by fires between 1998 and 2001 can be extracted from several sources. Here are the consolidated statistics:
1998:
1999:
2000:
2001:
Overall, between 1998 and 2001, the United States experienced approximately 19.1 million acres of wildfire-affected land.
These figures are averages at a national level and may vary when considering specific regions or detailed reports from different sources.
For further details, you can refer to the National Interagency Fire Center's statistics at NIFC.gov.