Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Associated Press
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo.
Growing wildfires stoked by windy, dry conditions have destroyed buildings and forced evacuations in California, Washington, Montana and elsewhere.
Here’s a brief look at the major wildfires in the West:
Wyoming: More firefighters headed to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, where large, growing wildfires have closed or threaten key roads and forced the evacuation of a large campground during a busy stretch of the summer tourist season.
California: A wildfire on California’s central coast grew to nearly 58 square miles Tuesday. At least 2,400 people were under evacuation orders in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties.
Washington: Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency for 20 counties in response to wildfires that threaten homes and natural resources.
Montana: Firefighters contained a blaze that threatened about two dozen homes in Missoula County.
Idaho: Authorities ordered evacuations in eastern Idaho where a wildfire burning rangeland and habitat of a threatened bird, the sage grouse, ballooned to 40 square miles.
Oregon: A nearly 50-square-mile fire in eastern Oregon near the Idaho state line was 60 percent contained and threatening Succor Creek State Park.
Utah: Crews were battling a small wildfire in northern Utah that was approaching a ski resort and a separate blaze in southern Utah burning through sage grouse habitat.