A look at wildfires burning across the US West
A wildfire burns near the Table Rock cross in Boise, Idaho in the early morning hours of Thursday, June 30, 2016. Strong winds pushed the fire around Table Rock and south toward Warm Springs Mesa subdivision and Harris Ranch, according to the Idaho Statesman. AP
A look at wildfires burning in the West and the aftermath of earlier blazes:
Southern California
Authorities planned autopsies on two charred bodies found 45 miles east of San Diego after a wildfire swept through the region. The county medical examiner’s office said the male and female bodies located Wednesday were between two boulders on a hill 50 to 70 yards from the closest residence. Significant injuries prevented visual identification of the bodies. Residents had reported a couple that lived on the property was missing.
The fire erupted near the town of Potrero on June 19 and forced extensive evacuations as it spread rapidly over several days, destroying five homes and 11 outbuildings while growing to nearly 12 square miles. It’s 97 percent contained. Mop-up and investigation of the cause continued.
In the southern Sierra Nevada, a fire that also killed two people and destroyed communities as it spread over nearly 73 square miles near Lake Isabella was 80 percent contained. A final tally counted 285 homes destroyed along with an AT&T microwave cell hub. Twelve residences were damaged. Two shelters remained open but all evacuations have been lifted. The cause of the fire, which erupted June 23, remained under investigation.
READ: Wildfires rage in western US amid deadly heatwave
Northern California
A wildfire that charged through inaccessible terrain and climbed out of a steep canyon along the middle fork of the American River has now charred about two square miles.
At least 400 homes about 50 miles northeast of Sacramento have been evacuated. The fire is threatening some than 2,600 homes, businesses and other structures. No damage to structures or injuries had been reported as of Thursday. The fire was 12 percent contained.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Daniel Berlant says the Red Cross has set up an evacuation center in Auburn, near Sacramento and 140 miles northeast of San Francisco.
READ: Officials: 150 homes burned in deadly California wildfire
Idaho
A wildfire burning through grass and sagebrush in the Boise foothills has destroyed a house and an outbuilding, but no injuries have been reported.
Officials say the fire started around midnight Wednesday and has consumed more than 2 square miles. Several thousand homes were threatened, and voluntary evacuations were in place, but few residents used a shelter.
Crews using bulldozers built a fire line to protect a subdivision.
Fire spokeswoman Tammy Barry says investigators determined that fireworks sparked the blaze but have no suspects.
Aircraft started dropping retardant early Thursday and the active part of the blaze has been stopped.
Barry says helicopters will scoop water from the Boise River near Barber Park, so river floaters should be alert.
About 140 firefighters are battling the blaze.
Montana
A wildfire burning on national forest land in southwestern Montana grew to 1.5 square miles on Thursday, mostly due to a burnout Wednesday afternoon that was intended to prevent the fire from spreading toward the community of Darby.
Residents in 200 homes remained on notice to prepare for possible evacuation.
The lightning-caused fire began at about noon on June 24 and is burning in steep, dangerous terrain about 10 miles south of Hamilton. Thunderstorms with gusty winds were forecast for Thursday afternoon and evening.
Fire information officer Kimberly Nelson says the northwestern part of the fire is burning into a wilderness area, where it is unsafe to put firefighters on the ground.
Nelson says there are 136 firefighters working the fire and six aircraft are available to dump water and retardant.
