Western Wildfires Burn Tens of Thousands of Acres
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington have burned tens of thousands of acres, and many remain mostly uncontained.
In California, the two biggest blazes are still burning. The Mosquito fire has burned through 46,587 acres, and the Fairview fire, which has been about 49% contained, has burned through 28,307 acres as of Monday morning. In Washington state, a blaze in the remote Stevens Pass area sent hikers fleeing and forced evacuations, while the Bolt Creek Fire near Seattle has scorched nearly 12 square miles. In Oregon, 3,000 Portland-area residents were forced to evacuate because of the 134-square-mile Cedar Creek fire that has burned more than 32,000 acres.
Some scientists say climate change and soaring temperatures has made the West drier over the last three decades and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive.
Sources across the political spectrum, especially on the left and center, covered the wildfires. Reports from left- and center-rated sources often highlighted voices who linked the fires to climate change and argued that heatwaves and wildfires worsen air pollution.
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From the Center
California Fire Map, Update as Mosquito Blaze Incinerates 46,000 Acres
Wildfires raging across acres of arid land in California—which have left at least two dead and destroyed homes with thousands more still at risk—are pumping out smoke so thick that the pollution is even choking a neighboring state.
The two biggest blazes were still burning Monday morning after fire crews tackled the infernos—dubbed Fairview and Mosquito after their source locations—over the weekend amid the state's heat wave.
A firefighter tackles the Fairview blaze on September 7, 2022 near Hemet, California.GETTY IMAGES
The state's firefighting agency, Cal Fire, has published maps detailing...
From the Left
Weather helping, but threat from Western fires persists
Firefighters made progress against a huge Northern California wildfire that was still growing and threatening thousands of mountain homes on Sunday, while crews also battled major blazes that blanketed large swaths of Oregon and Washington in smoke.
The Mosquito Fire in foothills east of Sacramento spread to nearly 65 square miles (168 square kilometers), with 10% containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
“Cooler temperatures and higher humidity assisted with moderating some fire activity,” but higher winds allowed the flames to push to...
From the Right
Out of control Oregon wildfire 0% contained after burning 87,000 acres
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"Currently, 2,230 homes and 443 commercial structures remain under threat from the Cedar Creek Fire," an update from the National Wildfire Coordinating...
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