Wildfires also engulfed more than 1,000 acres in Angeles National Forest, forcing the evacuation of 4,000 nearby residents. Blazes in California's Butte County, have charred 32,914 acres, but as of Sunday fire crews were gaining the upper hand on the uncontrollable flames. The bad news is that we're expecting 20-30 mph winds. We're holding all our resources, hoping for the best and being prepared for the worst. In Nevada, thick smoke from a 45,000-acre fire north of Reno blanketed the city and other adjacent areas.
Authorities urge people to stay indoors.
Further north, light rains assisted fire crews battling blazes in Washington and Oregon, which have charred more than 30,000 acres. Thousands of acres in Montana and Idaho have been burned as well. The West isn't the only region that's sending smoke signals for help. The National Interagency Fire Center also reports more than 300 fires from east Texas to Florida, putting a strain on an already limited firefighter staff. In order to prevent more fires from igniting, some areas placed restrictions on campfires and in some extreme cases on stove and lantern use.