Thousands of homes in northern California wine country and central Oregon were placed under evacuation orders and warnings as crews battled multiple wildfires in dry, hot conditions. The Pickett fire charred more than 6,800 acres in Napa county and was 13% contained, threatening roughly 500 structures near Aetna Springs and Pope Valley; about 150 people were ordered to evacuate and 360 were warned. In Oregon, the Flat fire put about 4,000 homes under evacuation notices, including 1,000 mandatory evacuations. More than 1,230 firefighters and 10 helicopters fought the California blaze. Heatwaves, low humidity and minimal moisture have left vegetation dangerously dry, increasing fire danger through October.
The Pickett fire, which had charred more than 6,800 acres of Napa county, was just 13% contained by Monday morning, according to the California department of forestry & fire protection, or Cal Fire. About 150 people were ordered to leave their homes, while another 360 were under evacuation warnings as the fire threatened 500 structures near Aetna Springs and Pope Valley, 80 miles (127km) north of San Francisco, said a Cal Fire spokesperson, Jason Clay.
In Oregon, the Flat fire in Deschutes and Jefferson counties had about 4,000 homes under various levels of evacuation notice, including 1,000 with orders to leave immediately, according to the state fire marshal's office. Firefighters were able to cut containment lines and continued to suppress fires in some residential areas. However, they faced significant challenges with difficult terrain, low humidity and triple-digit temperatures in some areas, officials said.
Residents of the western United States have been sweltering in a heatwave that hospitalized some people, with temperatures hitting dangerous levels throughout the weekend in Washington, Oregon, southern California, Nevada and Arizona. Even after the heatwave subsides, the risks will remain. With minimal moisture in areas of California and the Pacific north-west, fire dangers are expected to climb through the next month and into October. Vegetation is dangerously dry and overgrown in parts of Nevada, California, Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming.
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