Growing wildfires fed by windy, dry conditions have destroyed buildings and forced evacuations in central California, eastern Washington, Oregon and elsewhere.
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Crews in both states fought to contain the blazes, with firefighters making headway in the Golden State while authorities counted at least 16 homes burned in the Northwest.
Since the beginning of the year, there have been more than 4,900 wildfires in California that have torched over 419,000 acres.
Those winds could prove detrimental to the firefighting effort and push the fire beyond its 35 percent containment level.
More than 400 homes remained threatened by the fire, which was started July 22 by an illegal campfire and has destroyed 57 homes and 11 other buildings.
Just north of Big Sur, California’s largest fire grew held steady at 135 square miles in rugged wilderness coast along Highway 1.
Fire crews overnight made progress containing an arson fire that has destroyed nearly 200 homes.
Firefighters were getting a handle on an explosive blaze that destroyed 105 homes in Cajon Pass and the San Gabriel Mountains, 60 miles east of Los Angeles.
Wildfires in the Spokane area have burned more than a dozen homes and forced evacuations.
Known as the Spokane Complex Fire, the Hart Road Fire and the Deep North Fire, the blazes have collectively burned 12,000 acres or about 18 square miles and are completely out of control. All residents are asked to create and maintain defensible space ready their homes against flying embers and prepare for possible evacuations.
Firefighters appeared to be gaining the upper hand against blazes wildfires burning in Washington state.
The now-37,101-acre fire continued to burn furiously for the tenth day in the dry timber and brush west of historic Hearst Castle in San Simeon that has closed due to the smoky conditions.
A fire in Grand Teton park made a 5-mile run Monday, forcing the closure of a 10-mile stretch of road that leads into Yellowstone’s South Entrance. The wildfire’s flames burned to within three miles of the iconic Hearst Castle, which was reportedly the inspiration for Xanadu in George Welle’s 1941 film “Citizen Kane”. But by constantly putting the fires out, more unburned brush is left to fuel the next one.
Authorities ordered evacuations east of Thompson Falls after a fire doubled in size to almost 11 square miles.
The Sanders County Sheriff’s Office told people to leave their homes outside the small town of Thompson Falls.
Some 20 homes and other buildings were threatened, and other residents were told that the evacuation area may spread.
A wildfire spotted Sunday afternoon in eastern OR has quickly become one of the state’s largest active blazes.
Bureau of Land Management spokesman Larry Moore says the wildfire is burning two miles east of the Owyhee Reservoir, and it’s threatening Succor Creek State Park.
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Thunderstorms Monday brought gusty winds that pushed the fire toward homes and other structures but firefighters were able to protect them. What’s more, winds out of the south and southwest were forecast to hit around 10 miles per hour Tuesday with gusts up to twice that speed.
