AMERICANALMANAC (Sadie Smith) - Lightning-sparked wildfires consume nearly one million acres across the Pacific Northwest
More than 30 large wildfires are burning across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho after a mid-July lightning barrage ignited blazes that have collectively scorched nearly one million acres, and firefighters are losing ground on several fronts. The National Interagency Fire Center raised the country to Preparedness Level 5, its highest tier on a five-point scale, on […] The post Lightning-sparked wildfires consume nearly one million acres across the Pacific Northwest appeared first on American Almanac .
More than 30 large wildfires are burning across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho after a mid-July lightning barrage ignited blazes that have collectively scorched nearly one million acres, and firefighters are losing ground on several fronts. The National Interagency Fire Center raised the country to Preparedness Level 5, its highest tier on a five-point scale, on July 18, just days after a series of dry thunderstorms swept across the Pacific Northwest and threw thousands of lightning bolts into tinder-dry forests. That designation, FOX Weather reported , remains in effect until wildfire activity and demand for crews, aircraft, and equipment decline nationwide. As of Monday, 21 fires were burning in Oregon alone, with 10 new fire starts and…Open