Western Wildfires May Take Weeks To Months To Contain
Source: NPR
By DUSTIN JONES
Pockets of the American West continued to burn over the weekend, as another nine large fires were reported on Saturday in California, Idaho, Montana and Oregon.
The 87 fires still active in 13 states have consumed more than 1.7 million acres. Just shy of 3 million acres have been scorched since the start of 2021, with months left in what experts predict will be a devastating fire season.
In southern Oregon, the Bootleg Fire has become the largest active blaze in the country. The 413,000-acre inferno was contained at 56%, as of Saturday night. A fire line has been constructed around the entire perimeter, ranging from 100 to 150-feet wide between the burn and unburned areas. However, that fire line may have to double, up to 300 feet, to prevent the fire from spreading.
The U.S. Forest Service is predicting critical fire weather over the weekend in the Bootleg Fire area. Drought conditions, combined with low humidity and strong winds, could increase fire activity, potentially carrying embers and creating nearby spot fires. Residents in neighboring Lake County have been advised to be prepared to evacuate should things take a turn for the worst. Officials don't anticipate the fire to be entirely contained until the beginning of October.
Read more: https://www.npr.org/2021/08/01/1023274008/western-wildfires-oregon-california-drought
cilla4progress
(24,724 posts)got rain overnight!
Feel like I'm living inside a wet ashtray rn, though!
maxsolomon
(33,279 posts)The summers of the Trump era were hellscapes.
Weird skies today, though. Marine layer & high smoke from CA.
bahboo
(16,334 posts)could be another brutal year...fires are getting so much bigger and hotter...
mountain grammy
(26,608 posts)but probably won't stay that way.
NickB79
(19,233 posts)With uncontrolled climate change, all year is fire season.
OneCrazyDiamond
(2,031 posts)What if it burned year round, never stopping. Like an underground coal fire. Would they believe then.