Tens of millions of Americans in the U.S. West are enduring extreme heat and wildfire threats as temperatures soar and wind gusts stoke dozens of wildfires.
The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts that excessive heat will continue to affect over 20 million people across the U.S Southwest, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana.
In cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas, temperatures are expected to surpass 110 degrees Fahrenheit, while Billings, Montana, faces highs of 107 degrees.
The combination of this heatwave with persistent windy and dry conditions has significantly increased the wildfire threat.
About 20 fires are currently burning throughout California, scorching more than 100,000 acres.
In Riverside, California, the Hawarden Fire, sparked by fireworks, has destroyed over a dozen homes, injured two residents, and forced around 100 people to evacuate.
The National Interagency Fire Center reports 69 large active fires in the West, including 24 in Oregon and 9 in Arizona.
The center urges residents to stay vigilant and prepare for potential evacuations.
The Biden administration announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would begin sharing satellite data to help rapidly detect and report wildfire starts.
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said: “With more real-time information, we can reduce the risks to crews and improve our response time, reducing the risk to impacted communities.”
Canada’s Alberta Province is also battling dozens of wildfires, causing thousands to evacuate.
Smoke from these fires has degraded air quality in parts of the western U.S., with the worst conditions reported in Nampa and Boise, Idaho, and Burns, Oregon.
The northern hemisphere has seen an increase in intense wildfires this summer.
Research by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) highlights extreme wildfire emissions and atmospheric impacts in Canada, Alaska, and eastern Russia.
Guillermo Rein, a professor of fire science at Imperial College London, noted: “The intensity of wildfire season is becoming unprecedented.”
These wildfires have caused severe air pollution, posing health risks.
Dr. Marina Romanello from UCL Institute for Global Health emphasized: “PM2.5 particles can go very deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, making these high levels of smoke emissions particularly concerning.”
Firefighters in the West are scrambling as wildfires threaten communities in Oregon, California, and Washington.
The Durkee Fire in eastern Oregon has created its own weather system, complicating firefighting efforts.
Stephen Parker, a meteorologist with the NWS in Boise, Idaho, explained: “The pyrocumulus cloud allows the smoke and ash to travel much higher in the air.”
Several new fires have ignited in the region due to severe weather, with multiple fires scorching over 1,093 square miles in Oregon alone.
The Pacific Northwest is experiencing a “monster fire year,” with record-breaking dry timber conditions and no significant rain for over six weeks.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared an “extended state of emergency” until October due to the increased wildfire risk.
She urged Oregonians to follow evacuation instructions, subscribe to emergency alerts, and prepare evacuation plans and go-kits.
