28 June, 2017
"Critical fire danger and critical fire risk continue to cover large areas in the West".
Firefighters in Southern California were battling a fast-moving wildfire on Sunday that closed a highway and forced residents from their homes around the area of Santa Clarita, a city north of Los Angeles, authorities said.
Pam Baker, who lives next door in the northern Arizona town southeast of Prescott, wet the thick brown grass around her home but resisted leaving.
In Arizona, Governor Doug Ducey declared a state of emergency on Friday as more than 20 wildfires burned in the state.
The Brian Head Fire grew to more than 54,000 acres Tuesday night, but fire officials say anticipated strong winds weren't as bad as predicted and crews were able to increase the containment area to 10 percent.
The fire is now 60 percent contained.
The Brian Head Fire continues to rage Tuesday, as the winds Monday made the large blaze expand to almost 50,000 acres Tuesday morning.
Noel alleges that logging could have cleaned up dead, bug-infested trees that have fueled the so-called Brian Head fire; a conservation group said his accusations are "shameful" and misleading and don't take into account climate change and drought.
Sizzling heat is exacerbating the fire risks out West, where tired crews have been battling blazes in Utah, Nevada, Oregon and California.
The estimated firefighting costs now top $7 million for a fire started June 17 near Brian Head Resort by someone using a torch tool to burn weeds, they said.
Utah Fire Info tweeted Wednesday that 276 of 303 wildfires sparked in the the state this year have been human-caused, and urged people to avoid using any objects that can spark a wildfire near dry vegitation. More than 500 firefighters were battling the blaze. So far, no structures have been burned.
State Sen. Evan Vickers (R-Cedar City) said the Brian Head fire has caused anxiety locally because of the lost cabins and lost memories, as well as the safety of firefighters like his son-in-law.
The Arizona wildfire charred more than 28 square miles (73 square kilometers) and forced the evacuation of the town of Mayer and other areas as a precaution. Known as the Frye fire, the blaze burning on Mt.
The Arizona Republic reported that another unauthorised drone was spotted on Sunday, temporarily halting aerial efforts to put out a fire northwest of Flagstaff that is 88% contained.
The fire, which was sparked by a truck following a wreck, consumed at least 870 acres.
Nicole Perna, a spokeswoman actor Johnny Galecki, confirmed his home on a ranch was destroyed by a blaze in rural San Luis Obispo County. Nearly 1 million more acres had burned by Thursday, compared with the 10-year average through June 22.
