How Many Wildfires Are Happening In US? Fires Blaze Across Six States

At least 18 wildfires blazed across the West and Southwest United States Sunday following a week of record-breaking temperatures, CNN reported Sunday. There are six fires in Arizona, three in Utah, three in New Mexico, three in California, two in Nevada and one in Oregon.

The Brian Head Fire in Utah, named after a town in the southwest corner of the state, is currently the largest fire covering more than 42,000 acres by Sunday morning, KUTV, Salt Lake City, reported. The fire has burned 13 residences and eight outbuildings and is being battled by 996 firefighters, 11 helicopters and 41 fire trucks the Salt Lake Tribune reported. The fire was man-made and started June 17. Eight-hundred residents and visitors have been evacuated from the area.

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"The evacuations are in place indefinitely and more could be coming. They will stay in place until the fire manager feels it's safe,” Brian Head Town Manager Bret Howser told CNN.

Hot and dry conditions have also caused several fires in Northern Utah.

In southern Arizona, a fire covers around 29,000 acres of the Coronado National Forest south of Tucson, the Arizona Daily Star Friday. There are more than 800 people fighting the fire that was caused by a lightning strike June 7. On Friday Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey declared a state emergency and authorized the use of $200,000 of emergency funds to fight the fire.

“We thank the many brave men and women who have stepped up and responded to wildfires around Arizona,” Ducey said in a statement. “I’m issuing today’s declaration to make sure they have every resource needed to do their jobs and protect our communities. Public safety is our top priority, and we will continue to coordinate with state and local emergency response officials to keep Arizonans safe."

CNN said 2017 already has outpaced the 10-year average for wildfire damage. As of Thursday, more than 2.5 million acres of the U.S. had burned, around 1 million more than the average at this point in the year. The total number of wildfires is down slightly, however. There had been 27,943 wildfires as of Thursday. The 10-year average is 30,365.

Extreme heat hit parts of Arizona and California earlier this week, adding to the threat of fires. The temperatures in San Jose, California reached 103 degrees and is attributed with the death of two elderly people according to CNN Thursday.

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In Phoenix, several daily records were beaten as temperatures hit highs of 118 and 117 degrees. On Tuesday 50 flights were grounded in Phoenix due to the extreme temperatures according to NPR.

California’s Death Valley reached 127 degrees this week. The highest recorded temperature on earth according to Guinness World Records was set in Death Valley when it got up to 134 degrees in 1913.