Deadly Wildfires Worsen Across California, Oregon And Washington

Wildfires fueled by extreme heat and high wind spread further across California, Oregon and Washington on Thursday, destroying hundreds of homes and killing at least seven people.

Fires have burned through a record of at least 2.5 million acres in California, causing significantly worse destruction than last year’s devastating season.

The blazes have also destroyed entire communities in Oregon, including Detroit in Marion County; Blue River and Vida in Lane County; and Phoenix and Talent in Jackson County. Fires also largely decimated the eastern Washington town of Malden over the weekend.

“This could be the greatest loss of human lives and property due to wildfire in our state’s history,” said Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. “We are not getting any relief from the weather conditions. Winds continue to feed these fires and push them into our towns and cities.”

In Northern California, the major Bear Fire filled the skies with smoke and turned them an eerie dark yellow-orange, while the Creek Fire worsened in the Sierra National Forest. Three people were killed in the growing North Complex Fire in Northern California.