Heatwave plagues western US as wildfire threat looms

Tens of millions of people living in the western United States faced scorching temperatures on Tuesday as gusty winds and dry conditions fueled wildfires, prompting evacuations across the already arid region.

More than 20 million people living across a large swath of the United States, from the Southwest north through Nevada and Idaho to Montana, will spend the next two days under excessive heat warnings before milder temperatures arrive Friday, the National Weather Service said.

Temperatures in Phoenix and Las Vegas were expected to reach more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius) by midday Tuesday, while 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) to the north in Billings, Montana, the high was forecast to be 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius), the service said.

“Be heat smart and drink plenty of water, take frequent breaks and check on family and/or neighbors who don’t have a means to cool off,” the National Weather Service in Montana said in X.

The heatwave, coupled with persistent windy and dry conditions in drought-stricken parts of the region, amplifies the threat of wildfires that have broken out in recent days.

A wildfire broke out early Tuesday in Calaveras County, California, and has grown to 40 acres (18 hectares), prompting evacuation orders for the area, the county’s emergency services office said. It was unclear how many families were evacuated.

Meanwhile, 20 other fires were burning more than 100,000 acres across the state, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. Three of the fires were 98% contained as of Tuesday morning.

The California wildfires were among 69 active large fires burning in the West, including 24 in Oregon and nine in Arizona, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

“If you live near a wildfire, it’s important to be aware of local fire conditions and, if necessary, be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice,” the center said.

The Hawarden Fire destroyed or damaged more than a dozen homes in Riverside County, California, after it started Sunday night.

The blaze, which was 20% contained as of Tuesday, has burned more than 2 square kilometers (1 square mile) after it was sparked by fireworks, forcing about 100 people to evacuate and injuring two, authorities said.

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