Erratic Oregon Wildfire Destroys Dozens of Homes, Expands

Firefighters scrambled Friday to control a raging inferno in southeastern Oregon that’s spreading miles a day in windy conditions, one of numerous wildfires across the U.S. West that are straining resources.

Crews had to flee the fire lines late Thursday after a dangerous ‘fire cloud’ started to collapse, threatening them with strong downdrafts and flying embers.

An initial review Friday showed the Bootleg Fire destroyed 67 homes and 117 outbuildings overnight in one county.

Authorities were still counting the losses in a second county where the flames are surging up to 4 miles (6 kilometers) a day.