WILDFIRES RAVAGE WESTERN US AMID HEAT AND THUNDERSTORM THREATS

Sun 04 August 2024:

Firefighters are struggling with massive wildfires across the western United States, with high temperatures and impending thunderstorms expected to pose significant challenges. The Park Fire in Northern California has become the largest active fire in the country and the fourth-largest in the state’s history, burning 399,615 acres (1,617 square km) as of Friday afternoon, according to CalFire.

Firefighters have made notable progress, increasing containment to 25 percent. However, thick, dry vegetation continues to fuel the fire. CalFire warned of “critical weather” conditions over the weekend, including higher temperatures, lower humidity, and strong winds, which could exacerbate the fire’s behavior and growth.

Challenging terrain has complicated firefighting efforts, hampering radio communications and access. Over 6,375 personnel, supported by 41 helicopters, 542 engines, 180 dozers, and 148 water tenders, are battling the blaze along a 320 km active fire front.

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Widespread Impact

The fire has affected Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama counties, with Tehama experiencing the largest burn area and Butte reporting the most damage. As of Friday, 542 structures have been destroyed, 50 damaged, and around 4,000 people evacuated. No deaths have been reported.

Authorities believe the fire was deliberately set on July 24 in a park near Chico. A 42-year-old man, Ronnie Dean Stout II, has been arrested on felony arson charges.

The Park Fire is one of many wildfires in the state. Two new fires, the Nixon Fire and the Pedro Fire, have rapidly spread, burning over 5,200 acres (21 square km) and 3,800 acres (15 square km) respectively. Firefighters have contained 30 percent of the Nixon Fire and 35 percent of the Pedro Fire.

Colorado and Oregon Also Affected

Colorado’s Alexander Mountain Fire has grown to 9,194 acres (37 square km) near the Roosevelt National Park, with only 5 percent containment. The fire has claimed one life and damaged or destroyed at least two dozen structures in Larimer County. The newly reported Bucktail Fire has consumed 2,046 acres (8.3 square km) near Nucla.

In Oregon, firefighters brace for potential lightning strikes as monsoonal moisture moves in. The Durkee Fire, the second-largest active fire in the US, has burned 293,882 acres (1,189 square km) and is 63 percent contained.

The 2024 fire season has severely impacted California, with a 2,905 percent increase in burned acreage compared to 2023. So far, 768,137 acres (3,108 square km) have been consumed by 4,696 wildfires, according to CalFire.

Across the western US, firefighters are battling over 90 large active wildfires, with 28 fires prompting evacuation orders. California and Oregon have a combined 45 large fires burning, fueled by record-high temperatures and prolonged heat waves, which have left the region with dangerously dry vegetation.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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