California and Nevada witness the escalation of Line and Davis wildfires, forcing thousands to relocate.
As autumn approaches the Northern Hemisphere, the western US is sweltering under record temperatures and wildfires.
The National Fire Information Center reports that 70 active large fires are burning across the country, with around 2,036,704 acres ablaze. The majority of this mass conflagration is taking place west of the Mississippi River, in states such as Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.
California, Idaho and Nevada have been particularly affected by these wildfires, with homes and businesses being destroyed by flames and searing heat.
• Line Fire east of San Bernardino, California: According to Cal Fire, the Line Fire has scorched 20,553 acres and is only 3% contained. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has issued mandatory evacuation orders for approximately 4,800 homes in the Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake areas. Many more residents have also been evacuated in Highland, Forest Falls, Mountain Home Village and Angelus Oaks.
“A total of 36,328 structures are at risk, including private homes, commercial buildings and minor structures,” Cal Fire said.
The Line Fire began on Thursday, with more than 1,800 firefighters battling against the flames. As of Monday, the fire was still uncontrolled, according to Cal Fire. Three individuals have been injured in the blaze, though no further details have been provided.
The American Red Cross has established an evacuation shelter at a local church for those fleeing the fire.
• Boyles Fire southwest of Clearlake, California: At least 30 structures have been damaged by the fire, which is about 100 miles west of Sacramento. Over 4,000 residents have been evacuated as of Monday morning. Cal Fire reports that the fire has consumed 76 acres and remains uncontrolled.
• Bridge Fire in Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles: A fire within the national forest has burned 820 acres and remains uncontained, according to Cal Fire. Several roads have been closed in the park, forest officials announced on Facebook. “Strong winds and low humidity are helping the fire to spread,” Cal Fire said.
• Davis Fire south of Reno, Nevada: A fire south of Reno has razed 6,500 acres and remains uncontrolled, according to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. At least 14 structures have been destroyed.
“Gusty winds are forecast for the rest of the week,” the updated statement said.
Approximately 12,000 to 14,000 people are under evacuation notice, according to the update.
• Emergency declarations in California and Nevada: California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County due to the Line Fire. He has secured funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure that vital fire resources are available, he stated. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for the Davis Fire, he announced on X.
• Repercussions of the heat and fires: Temperatures in California range from 95 to 105 degrees, well above the usual standard. An air quality alert has also been issued, due to a heat wave and deadly fine particle pollution levels caused by wildfire smoke, according to the National Weather Service.
Additionally, an excessive heat warning has been issued for the region until 8 p.m. PT Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Although cooler weather is expected later in the week, winds may still be gusty, making it harder to contain the fires.
“Tough and dry weather, mixed with thunderstorms, will prove challenging for firefighters for the next few days,” according to CAL Fire officials.
Preserving schools and cancellation of a Hollywood Bowl concert
Multiple organizations, including Cal Fire, the San Bernardino County Fire Department and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office, are working together to manage the fire. The American Red Cross has created an evacuation shelter at a local church for those seeking refuge from the fire.
The Bear Valley Unified School District announced that all eight of its schools will be closed on Monday due to the impact of the Line Fire. Several other districts have adjusted their schedules and implemented special precautions to deal with the fires and excessive heat warnings affecting some 17 million people across southwestern California.
With the exception of one elementary school, all the remaining elementary schools in the San Bernardino City School District will remain open for its 46,509 students, according to a statement from Superintendent Mauricio V. Arellano. He stated that families rely on schools for safe learning environments, and stresses factors such as meals, child care and additional support as reasons for keeping the schools operating.
The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest school district in the country, announced that it has put in place precautionary measures for its 429,000 enrolled students on Monday, in response to an excessive heat warning.
In southwestern Los Angeles County, the Torrance United School District announced that it will close early on Monday due to the lack of air conditioners, according to its website.
Downtown Los Angeles is forecast to reach 102 degrees on Monday, marking the third day in four days with triple-digit temperatures. Thankfully, the heat wave will subside for the area by midweek.
The scorching heatwave led to power outages affecting thousands of consumers in Los Angeles County on Sunday, as per the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Approximately at 4:30 p.m., an overload occurred at a distribution station due to an escalated demand, exacerbated by the intense heat, as the agency revealed in a statement.
The Hollywood Bowl communicated its predicament in the power outage, prompting the cancellation of a concert featuring Vance Joy, Grouplove, and Tiny Habits.
"We apologize for the inconvenience. Should a new performance date be confirmed, further information, including the validity of tickets for the initial date, will be shared," the statement read.
Potatoes aren't the only items getting cooked in Idaho
The Lava Fire that started in Gem County, Idaho, just north of Boise, has charred 30,000 acres, as stated by the US Forest Service.
In their latest update on Sunday, the Forest Service claimed, "Today, the Lava Fire demonstrated extreme fire behavior, resulting in substantial growth in all directions due to intense heat." Firefighters had to retreat from the area due to the fire's rapid expansion.
"Property damage evaluations are ongoing by fire managers and the county sheriff’s office," the update stated.
The Gem County Sheriff’s Office issued "Level III-Red-Go Now Evacuation Notices" for nearby residents on Sunday following the fire, which was initially ignited by lightning a week ago.
‘Longer and more active fire seasons’
Since 2024, a total of 6,788,766 acres have been consumed by wildfires across the United States in 35,609 incidents, as reported by the National Interagency Fire Center.
This year has witnessed the most acres burned by September since 2018, according to the center's statistics.
In California, approximately 80% of the state's largest wildfires have taken place during the last decade, featuring the 2018 Camp Fire that claimed 85 lives and reduced the town of Paradise to ashes.
"Studies reveal that changes in the climate induce warmer, drier conditions, resulting in longer and more active fire seasons," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration pointed out in July. "Temperature increases and the soil's thirsty nature due to human-induced climate change have raised aridity of forest fuels during the fire season."
The Line Fire in California is posing a threat to 36,328 structures, including homes and businesses, according to Cal Fire. The western US, including states like California, is currently dealing with multiple wildfires, causing significant damage and evacuations.
