Dangerous brush fires burning in the northwestern United States threaten Indigenous lands already struck by one of the worst droughts in recent memory. About 60 fires have so far destroyed more than 4,000 square kilometers in a dozen western states, including Oregon and Washington.
In Oregon, the Bootleg Fire, which has so far incinerated at least 20 homes, continued to burn near the California border. At least 2,000 houses are threatened by the flames.
An official warned that the fire is doubling in size every day. The flames now cover 815 square kilometers, and firefighters have sometimes had to retreat to keep them safe, and the weather doesn't look like it will improve anytime soon. Wind speeds are increasing and fanning the flames.
Scientists warn that climate change is making the West hotter and drier, and the weather will become more unpredictable as the world warms.
Only a small percentage of wildfires are started by man’s careless actions, most are started by dry lightning strikes.