Dangerous heat fuels wildfires across U.S. West
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Firefighters work to build a fire line as they tackle the Lake Fire, in Santa Barbara County, California, on Sunday. Photo: Daniel Dreifus/AFP via Getty Images
Massive wildfires burning across the U.S. West during the record heat wave prompted evacuation orders in several states over the weekend — including one in Southern California that's threatening homes including the late Michael Jackson's former Neverland Ranch.
The big picture: 24 large fires have been burning across the Western U.S., per the latest details from the National Interagency Fire Center — including eight in California and two in Utah, where hot, dry and windy conditions brought "critical fire weather" concern for central and southern parts of the state Sunday.
Threat level: "An EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING through next week continues to affect the fire with high temperatures, drying vegetation, and little relief at night," per a statement posted to Inciweb, an interagency website that tracks wildfires, on the Lake Fire that's threatening homes including Jackson's former ranch.
Zoom in: The fire that's burned over 16,000 acres in Santa Barbara County since igniting Friday triggered evacuation orders and was 8% contained as of Sunday evening, per the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
- Evacuation orders were also in effect over the French Fire in Mariposa County, near Yosemite National Park, which has resulted in the injuries of four firefighters, destroyed four structures and threatened 830 others as of Sunday evening, according to Cal Fire.
- The blaze has razed more than 900 acres since igniting Friday and was 25% contained by Friday evening.
In Utah, Upper Bullion Canyon residents were evacuated due to the Silver King Fire in Piute County that was burning out of control as it grew to some 11,000 acres on Sunday evening, per a city of Marysvale post to Facebook.
In Oregon, evacuation orders were in place due to the McCaffery Fire, which ignited near the Redmond Airport Saturday and the central Oregon Type 3 incident management team said had burned more than 450 acres at 25% by Sunday evening.
Between the lines: Multiple studies show human-caused climate change is a key driver behind increased wildfire risk, while heat waves are more likely to occur, be more intense and longer lasting.
- Extreme wildfire events during the past two decades more than doubled in frequency and magnitude globally, with the six worst seasons occurring during the past seven years, a study published last month found.
Go deeper: Where homes will face the most wildfire risk in next 30 years
Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
