Lightning and a burning car pushed into a gully are blamed for wildfires scorching the West (2024)

In this photo provided by Alison Oszman, a fast-moving wildfire near the Orego-Idaho border moves toward a home on Rye Valley Lane in Huntington, Ore., in the afternoon o fWednesday, July 24, 2024.

This photo provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation shows the Durkee Fire burning in eastern Ore., Monday, July 22, 2024.

The sun sets behind the mountains obscured by wildfire smoke from blazes in the American West and provinces of western Canada late Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Denver.

In this photo provided by Alison Oszman, a fast-moving wildfire near the Orego-Idaho border moves toward a home on Rye Valley Lane in Huntington, Ore., in the afternoon o fWednesday, July 24, 2024.

In this photo provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Durkee Fire lights up the sky in eastern Ore., Monday, July 22, 2024.

In this image provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Durkee fire burns in the background as it nears Interstate 84 near Huntington, Ore., early Tuesday, July 23, 2024.

In this image provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Durkee fire burns in the background as it nears Interstate 84 near Huntington, Ore., early Sunday, July 21, 2024.

In this image provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation, shows an area burned by the Durkee fire near Interstate 84 close to Huntington, Ore., Tuesday afternoon, July 23, 2024.

In this photo provided by Alison Oszman, a fast-moving wildfire near the Orego-Idaho border moves toward a home on Rye Valley Lane in Huntington, Ore., in the afternoon o fWednesday, July 24, 2024.

Haze hangs in the air over downtown Denver, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. Fires burning in California, Oregon, Arizona, Washington and other western states, as well as Canada, have filled the skies in regions of the western U.S. with smoke and haze, forcing some affected areas to declare air quality alerts or advisories.

The skyline is obscured by wildfire smoke from blazes in the American West and provinces of western Canada late Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Denver.

In this image provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, smoke rises from a wildfire on Monday, July 22, 2024, near Durkee, Ore. In eastern Oregon, evacuation orders were lifted Thursday for the city of Huntington, population 500, after a severe thunderstorm late Wednesday brought some rain and cooler temperatures to the nearly 630 square miles (1,630 square kilometers) burned by the Durkee Fire, the nation's biggest, and another nearby blaze.

In this image provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, smoke rises from the Durkee wildfire on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at the I-84 Rye Valley exit in Oregon. In eastern Oregon, evacuation orders were lifted Thursday for the city of Huntington, population 500, after a severe thunderstorm late Wednesday brought some rain and cooler temperatures to the nearly 630 square miles (1,630 square kilometers) burned by the Durkee Fire, the nation's biggest, and another nearby blaze.

In this image provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, smoke rises from the Durkee wildfire on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, by the I-84 near Lime, Ore. In eastern Oregon, evacuation orders were lifted Thursday for the city of Huntington, population 500, after a severe thunderstorm late Wednesday brought some rain and cooler temperatures to the nearly 630 square miles (1,630 square kilometers) burned by the Durkee Fire, the nation's biggest, and another nearby blaze.

An animal runs through grass while fleeing flames as the Park Fire tears through the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Flames consume a building as the Park Fire tears through the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Firefighters spray water as the Park Fire tears though the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Horses evacuate as the Park Fire tears though the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

A plume rises from the Park Fire burning near Chico, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Walls stand at a residence destroyed by the Park Fire on Sycamore Valley Rd. near Chico, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

A hillside burns as the Park Fire tears though the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Flames consume a car and building as the Park Fire tears though the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Flames consume a building as the Park Fire tears though the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

A plume rises from the Park Fire burning near Chico, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Cal Fire firefighter Christian Moorhouse defends a mobile home while battling the Park Fire in the community of Cohasset near Chico, Calif., Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Firefighter Christian Moorhouse battles the Park Fire tears though the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024. His crew was able to keep flames from reaching the mobile home they were protecting.

Seen from Chico, Calif., a plume rises from the Park Fire burning in Butte County on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Flames surround real estate signs as the Park Fire tears though the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Water truck drivers Robert Cramer, left, and Daniel Rudkin, sit with a dog they found as the Park Fire tears through the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

A dog being safeguarded by fire support personnel sits beside Cohasset Rd. as the Park Fire burns in the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Seen from Chico, Calif., a plume rises from the Park Fire burning in Butte County on Thursday, July 25, 2024.