US Battles 183 Wildfires as Hot, Dry Weather Drives 3 Million Acres Burned
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 9
US Battles 183 Wildfires as Hot, Dry Weather Drives 3 Million Acres Burned
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 9
Summary
183 wildfires were burning across the United States on Aug. 9, including eight large new blazes, with firefighters working to contain 94 as hot, dry conditions intensified the season.
More than 20,000 people across southwest Canada and the western United States have fled homes, and the U.S. Forest Service said an abnormally dry, warm winter helped set up the severe summer fire threat.
Oregon's Wrights Spring Fire has scorched more than 30,000 acres and remained uncontained after first responder Jason Ensign, 47, died while operating a bulldozer; four Oregon fires triggered evacuations.
Utah's Rocky Canyon fire grew by more than 4,000 acres and was 0% contained near Salt Lake City, while the separate Widemouth 2 Fire had burned 118,000 acres and killed two helicopter pilots.
British Columbia was battling 103 active wildfires, with the Bald Range fire near Okanagan Lake burning nearly 34,000 acres, forcing more than 20,000 evacuations and leaving one woman dead during the evacuation.