Massive 'Fire Clouds' From Oregon Wildfire Make Firefighting Efforts More Difficult

Firefighters spent day 11 making efforts to overpower and stop the raging wildfire in southeastern Oregon that has burned over 377 square miles and led to the destruction of not less than 21 homes.

The Bootleg Fire

In an update Friday about the blaze incident, commander Rob Allen said the perimeter of "The Bootleg Fire" is over 200 miles long, which is a great amount of line to build and hold. Rob says they are continuing to make use of every resource from dozers to air tankers to engage where it's not risky to do so mostly with the dry, hot, windy conditions forecasted to get worse into the weekend.

The intensity of the fire is enough to make a weather of its own, bringing huge pyrocumulus clouds produced by heat into the atmosphere. On Thursday, Fire officials said that there was a collapse of one of those clouds and this sent embers dissipating from the fire, prompting a new round of evacuation orders for areas on the east side of the fire.

The Bootleg Fire is one of dozens blazing across the western United States, triggered by drought, wind, heat, and also sparked by lightning in most cases. Thousands have been forced to relocate from their homes due to the flame and multiple houses in their path have also been destroyed.

Because of the fires and great response needed to stop them, on Wednesday the NIFC moved the nation to the highest category of wildfire activity.

Here's a look at some of the major wildfires blazing in the western U.S. states as of Friday afternoon.

Oregon

The Bootleg Fire had burned over 377 squares mile of land and was about 7% contained. People were afraid that it and a less intense fire burning nearby - the Log Fire, could come together and become very powerful.

A fire operations spokesperson, Holly Krake, told the Oregonian that powerful winds were forcing the Bootleg Fire to the Log Fire.

Washington

One of four large fires burning in Washington was The Red Apple Fire, this fire has scorched over 17 square miles and causing threats in over 1,500 homes north of Wenatchee between Seattle and Spokane.

In this area, Chelan County Emergency Management lifted or reduced some evacuation notices. The fire was about 10% contained but crews were fighting to maintain control, as per the Associated Press.

Idaho

The NIFC is tracing not less than 17 large fires in Idaho, the greatest of any state.

Snake River Complex is the largest and has burned through over 156 square miles. It's sited about 20 miles south of Lewiston.

While most of the fires in Idaho are less intense than those in other states, Gov. Brad Little is afraid the situation could become worse.

California

This state is already on pace to beat the 2020 record fire season. The largest fire currently blazing in the state is The Beckwourth Complex, which remained at about 68% contained. It had affected over 163 square miles and led to the destruction of several structures on its way.

Six other large fires were blazing throughout the state.

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