In Central California, the fast-moving Big Sur fire is being fueled by hundreds of dead trees amid triple-digit temperatures and single-digit humidity that are expected to last for several days.
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A deadly blaze that has scorched some 43,000 acres and destroyed dozens of homes near California’s famed Big Sur coast was sparked by an illegal, unattended camp fire in a state park, authorities said on Tuesday.
Officials say the fire expanded by about 5 square miles Tuesday in rugged terrain and was almost 30 percent contained. It has since charred about 2,020 acres (817 hectares) and is threatening 400 structures, prompting evacuations in the area, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The fire started Saturday and has grown to 2,000 acres.
Steep, mountainous terrain as well as hot, dry conditions have hampered efforts to quell the blaze tearing through drought-parched chaparral, grass and timber.
A wildfire north of scenic Big Sur spread again overnight and has now charred more than 67 square miles.
Evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes northwest of Dubois as progress was made against a wildfire.
An approximately 2-square-mile blaze that destroyed eight homes and prompted the evacuation of about 140 others in southern Uinta County was 25 percent contained.
CalFire said high temperatures were making it rough going for the some 1,300 firefighters battling that blaze.
No structures were immediately threatened by the biggest complex of fires that has burned about 75 miles of rangeland but is now estimated to be 40 percent contained about 40 miles north of Reno. Residents of about 630 homes southwest of Hamilton were evacuated while another 215 homes were warned to be ready to leave. Major power lines are also threatened, as are endangered species and area watersheds, Cal Fire said.
Eastern Oregon residents urged to evacuate over the weekend because of a wildfire were allowed to return home.
The $60,000 yurt is a round, tent-like structure with a dome roof and plastic skin.
Firefighters in northwest Nevada are bracing for dry, hot winds and the possibility of erratic flames as they battle a series of wildfires that have charred nearly 75 square miles of rangeland.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday night the fire was still burning about 7 miles north of Moses Lake.
The 4.5-square-mile blaze started Saturday afternoon in steep, rugged terrain.
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Firefighters have gained 50 percent containment of the fire that has burned about 22 square miles on private land and in Shoshone National Forest. Residents of the rural area surrounded by rolling hills told reporters they scrambled to evacuate with their animals as the wind-driven blaze swept through dry slopes.
