Sustainability Environment

Thousands under evacuation orders as wildfires rage out of control in California and Montana

(National Wildfire Coordinating Group/InciWeb)

Story at a glance

  • The Richard Spring fire in Montana has led to evacuation orders for six communities, as well as preevacuation orders for three others.
  • The Richard Spring fire has burned more than 150,000 acres.
  • In California, the Dixie fire, the largest wildfire in the United States, has been blazing since July 13.

A Montana wildfire that ignited Sunday is continuing to spread across a rural town as environmental conditions fan the flames.

The Richard Spring fire has led to evacuation orders for six communities, as well as preevacuation orders for three others as authorities track its spread.

“Fire behavior is extreme with wind driven runs and is burning in mainly brush, short grass, and timber,” InciWeb said of the fire conditions. “The current weather conditions of high winds and low relative humidity combined with high temperatures are expected to continue and sustain or increase fire behavior.”


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The Richard Spring fire has burned more than 150,000 acres.

Meanwhile, in California, the largest wildfire in the United States continues to burn. The Dixie fire has been blazing since July 13 and has overtaken 510,227 acres.

With only 30 percent of the fire contained, authorities are concerned that high pressure and low humidity in the area may produce thunderstorms that could spread the fire through high winds and lightning, as opposed to the rain helping put it out.


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