The West Is On Fire

Across the nation, wildfires have consumed roughly 6 million acres  this year, above the 10-year average of 4.9 million acres, according to figures from the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.

Northern California, the Rush fire has burned 270,683 acres; in Idaho, the Trinity Ridge fire has burned 90,664 acres; and in Oregon, the Barry Point fire has consumed 93,949.  And these are just a few of the fires that remain active.

More than 750 firefighters and support personnel were working in Oregon and Nevada to corral the 418,235-acre Holloway Fire, the largest of the Western wildfires ignited by a lightning strike on August 5.

1 Firefighter was killed Idaho and 2 more have been injured in Oregon and California.

The U.S. has had a total of 42,488 fires, which have burned almost 6.9 million acres.  The 10-year average is 54,000 fires for this time of year.

The National Interagency Fire Center says this fire season is really pretty average.  It's our dry, parched conditions that are above average.

This dry heat is supposed to last into next week.  Thunderstorms with lightening could spark  more fires in the West.

From Reuters and the LA Times.