El Niño-Fueled Firestorm: Pacific Northwest Braces for Historic Wildfire Season
Across Washington and Oregon, roughly 2.9 million acres have burned this year, destroying hundreds of homes as 95 large wildfires blaze across the Pacific Northwest; nationwide, the U.S. has logged about 6.3 million acres burned and more than 45,800 fires, with firefighting resources stretched to the limit. Experts warn that an impending very strong El Niño will likely prolong heat and drought into autumn, keeping fire risk elevated across the West.