Western US Braces for New Wildfires

The Western United States was preparing on Sunday evening for dry lightning that could lead to more devastating fires in a region already plagued by blazes. Eight fires ignited in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of large fires still burning in the U.S. to 80, having so far scorched 4,680 square kilometers, according to the latest report from the National Interagency Fire Center. Approximately 20,000 firefighters are involved in battling the blazes, including 2,000 personnel working on the "Bootleg Fire" in Oregon, which alone has consumed over 1,200 square kilometers. Weather services warned of "dry lightning" moving from California to the northern Rocky Mountains, which could exacerbate the situation. The South California Weather Service stated in its forecast that there is a "high potential for large fire outbreaks across the region, even until Monday, due to strong lightning."