Western wildfires delay hundreds of flights: report

Hundreds of flights were delayed on Monday due to the haze and smoke created by wildfires burning throughout the western U.S.

As CNN reports, Denver airport spokesperson Alex Renteria said the delays were caused “by the planes having to be spaced out due to visibility.”

At least 329 flights going to and from the Colorado airport have been delayed and at least eight have been cancelled.

There are currently 80 wildfires burning throughout 13 states, with more than 1 million acres burning mostly in the western U.S.

In Montana, flights at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport have been delayed due to fuel issues.

“Each airline provides their own fuel through their providers but today, some have had their fuel delivery delayed due to increased fire suppression needs throughout the West that has diminished supply in Montana in an already tight fuel environment,” airport director Brian Sprenger told CNN.

In Oregon, where the most acreage has been burned in the U.S. so far this year, residents have been warned to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. State officials told CNN that weather conditions are exacerbating the wildfires, with dry conditions and record-high temperatures prolonging the blazes.

“There are some fires currently burning that … will only be extinguished by season-ending snowfall,” fire spokesman Daniel Omdal told CNN, saying that the Bootleg Fire ripping through Oregon may be one such fire.