Latest Updates on Megafires Burning in the Western U.S.

Wildfire season is kicking into high gear across the western U.S. with megafires burning in two states. Here is a look at the explosive situation happening out West.

Megafires Raging in California and Arizona

Extreme heat and a parched landscape are helping to fuel an active period of wildfires throughout some parts of the western U.S. California and Arizona have been hit particularly hard in recent weeks as gusty winds whip up the flames and present challenges for crews working to get the fires under control.

The Dragon Bravo Fire is currently causing destruction along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. As of the latest update from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), this inferno has burned almost 123,000 acres, making it the largest blaze currently burning in the Lower 48. The fire started on the Fourth of July at the hands of a lightning strike.

While containment reached 26% last weekend, that percentage has slipped back to 13%. Crews on the scene are blaming higher winds and drier conditions across the northern and southwestern edges of the fire for the erratic behavior of the flames.

The Dragon Bravo Fire has been so massive and powerful that it has been able to create its own weather systems. This includes the formation of what are known in meteorological circles as pyrocumulus clouds over the fire for seven consecutive days.

Officials also say that the Dragon Bravo Fire has reached the designation of a megafire. Only 3% of fires hit this size each year in the U.S. Megafires are responsible for the bulk of burned acreage in the U.S. This was evident with the Dragon Bravo Fire, a blaze that has already destroyed dozens of structures, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.

Update on Fires in California

The wildfire situation is also approaching dire levels of concern in neighboring California. There are 14 active fires currently burning in the Golden State. Seven of these fires started last weekend.

The Gifford Fire burning in the Los Padres National Forest is the largest of these fires. Straddling Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, this fire has exploded in size to over 65,000 acres. According to Cal Fire, the Gifford Fire is just 5% contained.

Cal Fire officials also confirmed that three people have been injured in the fire. The unpredictable winds are continuing to present challenges for crews on the scene. Almost 500 structures are being threatened by the fire with several evacuation orders in effect. Additionally, 60 miles of Highway 166 are closed as flames fly on both sides of the roadway.

The news is not promising for California. The state is currently on pace to record one of its worst wildfire years in recent years. The bulk of the activity is happening in the southern and central portions of the state.

Looking at the rest of the western U.S., you will find dozens of active fires in Utah and Nevada. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox declared a state of emergency recently after almost 700 fires had ignited thus far this year. The Monroe Canyon Fire has already burned over 60,000 acres, forcing evacuations in the central part of the Beehive State. This blaze has scorched over 60,000 acres and is only 13% contained. Cox also noted that almost 75% of the fires in Utah this year have been caused by humans rather than Mother Nature.

Unfortunately, conditions could get worse before they get better in the western U.S. Rising temperatures in the days ahead will raise the threat of new fires while high winds could spread any existing flames.

Air Quality Levels Plummet in the Eastern U.S.

Although the eastern U.S. is not dealing with wildfires on the ground, the smoke from the fires burning to the north in Canada has filtered over the border and prompted air quality alerts. These alerts have been issued across a large swath of the northern and eastern U.S. from Wisconsin to New Hampshire.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) was hovering at "unhealthy" levels early Tuesday in urban areas such as Cleveland, Milwaukee, Buffalo, and New York City. With an AQI of 125, Detroit was distinguished as having some of the worst air quality on the planet on Tuesday. This is a good reminder to check the AQI in your local area before spending extended periods of time outside.

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