Large western US blaze forces evacuations as lightning forecast
Issued on:
17/07/2021 - 02:18
Helicopters loaded with water flew over the Bootleg Fire, 27 miles northeast of Klamath Falls, near Bly, Oregon Payton Bruni AFP
4 min
Los Angeles (AFP)
The extreme drought-hit western United States braced for more wildfire destruction Friday as efforts to contain a vast blaze scorching southern Oregon failed to progress, and dangerous dry lightning storms were forecast in California.
The Bootleg Fire near Oregon's border with California grew overnight to 240,000 acres -- larger than New York City, and by far the biggest active blaze in the US -- while remaining just seven percent contained.