California’s Largest Wildfire Of The Year Raging As Heatwave Continues

California’s largest wildfire is spreading throughout the West, with more than 18 million Americans still under heat advisories following a record-breaking heatwave.

The heatwave pushed temperatures into the triple digits in places across Arizona, Utah, California, and Montana, contributing significantly to the fast spread of fires over the weekend. On Saturday, Las Vegas matched its all-time high temperature of 117 degrees, while Death Valley hit 130 degrees on Friday.

While the heatwave is gradually subsiding, scorching temperatures are expected to persist, posing a threat to firefighters combating fires.

Currently, dozens of major wildfires are raging across the West.

According to the US Forest Service, the Beckwourth Complex Fire near Doyle, California, has grown to become the state’s biggest wildfire of 2021, covering more than 86,000 acres and is just 20% controlled. According to ABC Sacramento station KXTV, the fire caused mandatory evacuations, blocked sections of US Route 395, and has nearly crossed state boundaries into Nevada.

Winds of up to 20 mph fanned the fire in the northern Sierra Nevada, according to The Associated Press.

According to the Associated Press, the air was so dry that part of the water dropped by planes to put out the fire evaporated before it reached the ground.

A new wildfire broke out in California over the weekend. The River Fire, which is burning in Madera and Mariposa Counties, has grown to over 4,000 acres in only a few hours and is just 5% controlled. A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for a number of neighborhoods in the area.

According to the US Forest Service, the Bootleg Fire in Klamath County, Oregon, had grown to more than 153,000 acres by Monday, forcing evacuations in the region. It was initially discovered on July 6 in the Fremont-Winema National Forest, but it grew to 75,000 acres on Saturday, according to ABC Portland affiliate KATU.

Due to the Rock Creek Fire near Craig, Montana, which shut down sections of Interstate 15, evacuations were also requested.

Drought and dry conditions remain, giving the perfect environment for any spark to explode into a fast-moving wildfire.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the whole state of California is in drought, with 85 percent in extreme drought, while almost two-thirds of Utah is in exceptional drought, and more than one-third of Washington state is in extreme drought.

Dry lightning can also start more fires during monsoon thunderstorms in the West.