Wildfires in Western US Continue to Spread

Wildfires in the western United States are spreading across large areas, with evacuation orders issued in some regions. In Washington and Oregon, over 2.9 million acres have been burned in wildfires this year, leaving hundreds of structures uninhabitable. The dense smoke from the fires is also negatively affecting the region's air quality.In eastern Washington, three major fires have left at least 846 structures uninhabitable. Residents in some areas have been called to evacuate, while others are preparing for potential evacuations. In the towns of Malden and Rosalia, about 55 kilometers south of Spokane, evacuation calls were made after two fires started.Malden was largely destroyed in a wildfire in 2020, with the town's fire station, post office, town hall, and library all burned down. In Utah, two pilots lost their lives when a helicopter fighting a fire crashed.