Wildfires fueled by strong winds and an extended heat wave have led to the first death in California of the 2024 season, while fires in Arizona have forced hundreds to evacuate.
As reported by AP News, authorities in Western states are warning of the increasing risk of wildfires due to the ongoing heat wave that has dried out the landscape, set temperature records, and put lives at risk.
California’s first death of the fire season was reported after Mendocino County officials found human remains in a home that burned in a fire that started Monday.
The coroner’s office is working to identify the body, which may belong to a 66-year-old woman reported missing by her family.
In Arizona, more than 400 residents of the San Carlos Apache Reservation were ordered to leave after a wildfire spread into the downtown area on Thursday, destroying at least 13 homes.
No injuries or deaths have been reported, but the tribe’s chairman, Terry Rambler, called it the “most serious structural fire” on the reservation in decades.
Arson is suspected in the fire, which has burned about 2 square miles and remains uncontained as tribal leaders declared a state of emergency.
Patrick J. Victor recorded videos as the fire erupted around his home on Thursday, showing dark skies and black smoke.
“It looks like the fire pits of hell,” Victor said.
Although his family’s home was spared, Victor expressed devastation for his community, noting: “Some of these houses are second- and third-generation homes.”
California has responded to over 3,500 wildfires this year, burning nearly 325 square miles, which is five times the average burned through July 10 in the past five years, according to Joe Tyler, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Tyler said: “Our winds and the recent heat wave have exacerbated the issue, consuming thousands of acres. So we need to be extra cautious.”
Crews in California are battling numerous wildfires, including a stubborn 53-square-mile blaze in Santa Barbara County that has prompted evacuation orders for about 200 homes.
The Mina Fire in Mendocino County, likely started from an escaped burn pile, resulted in the death of the 66-year-old woman, who was last seen trying to protect her home with a garden hose.
Officials across the West, including in Oregon, Nevada, and Washington state, have imposed burn bans and other restrictions to prevent sparks.
In Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency through September, allowing the state to deploy additional resources.
Kotek stated: “Throughout the summer, it will inevitably get hotter and drier, presenting an even greater risk of catastrophic wildfires.”
A fire in eastern Oregon started Thursday and burned more than 115 square miles by Friday, threatening several homes in the Brogan area.
In Hawaii, Haleakala National Park on Maui was closed due to a wildfire, and more than 150 vehicles were stranded as narrow roads were blocked by fire crews.
