LOWER LAKE, Calif. (AP) — Wildfires are charging through several states in the parched West, scorching homes and forcing people to flee. Flames are plaguing some California residents, who had to evacuate for the second time in recent weeks after blazes exploded in size.
Here’s a look at wildfires burning through Western states:
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
A Northern California blaze more than doubled in size overnight despite cooler temperatures and higher humidity.
The fire, which erupted Sunday several miles from the community of Lower Lake, had burned nearly 19 square miles, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
For the second time in as many weeks, residents had to evacuate their homes because of the uncontained fire lighting up rocky hills about 100 miles north of San Francisco.
More than 1,100 firefighters are battling the blaze that is threatening 50 structures. No homes have been destroyed, and no injuries have been reported.
Meanwhile, firefighters have nearly surrounded the larger nearby blaze that started about two weeks ago and has burned 109 square miles. That fire destroyed 43 homes, but all evacuations have been lifted.
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Crews made headway Tuesday against a small wildfire in rural Riverside County that chased people from their homes and left one person burned.
The blaze sparked by a burning motor home has been held to just under 500 acres about halfway between Temecula and Palm Desert, state fire officials said. It is partially contained.
Evacuation orders remain for residences just east of State Route 74, but it’s not clear how many homes or people are affected.
The blaze near Anza started in the motor home and spread to vegetation Monday. One person in the motor home suffered burns, and three firefighters were taken to hospitals with minor injuries, officials said.
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MONTANA
A fire has burned about 3 square miles in heavy timber in Glacier National Park, prompting some trail and campsite closures.
The flames spotted Sunday afternoon were threatening a historic patrol cabin and come weeks after a bigger blaze led visitors to evacuate campsites and resorts in the park during prime tourist season.
Crews are fighting the new fire from the air Tuesday because it is in such remote, rugged terrain.
Problems with firefighting efforts could arise with temperatures between 95 and 100 degrees expected Tuesday through Thursday and strong winds Friday.
The older fire continues to burn, remaining at nearly 7 square miles and more than halfway contained.
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ARIZONA
Improved weather helped firefighters gain some control over a 10-square-mile wildfire near the Arizona-California line that temporarily forced 900 homes to evacuate.
Crews worked to check the blaze Tuesday in the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge amid relatively light winds and got it nearly halfway contained, authorities say.
Byron Steward, emergency management coordinator for Mohave County, says around 100 homes in Arizona’s Topock area will remain evacuated because they are near 11 residences that burned Saturday when the fire started.
Evacuation orders were lifted Monday for 900 homes after crews made solid efforts in protecting them.
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ELSEWHERE IN THE WEST
— A wildfire in Lewis County, Washington, charred about 100 acres and was controlled Tuesday.
— In Alaska, the fire season has officially become the second biggest on record. More than 5.08 million acres — or 7,940 square miles — has burned this year. Fire spokesman Sam Harrel says Alaska won’t beat the 6.6 million acres burned in 2004 because the state has entered its seasonal wet period.
