Firefighters struggled to contain an exploding Northern California wildfire under blazing temperatures as another heat wave hits the U.S. West this weekend, prompting an excessive heat warning for inland and desert areas. On Friday, Death Valley National Park in California recorded a staggering high of 54 C and could reach the same high on Saturday. The air was so dry that some of the water dropped by aircraft evaporated before reaching the ground, she added. The blaze, which was only eight per cent contained, increased dramatically to 222 square kilometres after fire officials made better observations. Fire crews in north-central Idaho were fighting three lightning-sparked wildfires covering a combined 160 square kilometres.

Source: CBC News July 10, 2021 19:18 UTC