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Dozens of wildfires are scorching large swaths of the US and Canada. Here’s the latest on them

Dozens of wildfires are scorching large swaths of the US and Canada. Here’s the latest on them

LOS ANGELES — Dozens of wildfires across the United States and Canada have torched swaths of land in California, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Alberta and beyond, forcing evacuations and road closures and destroying and threatening buildings. Air quality advisories and warnings have been issued in some affected areas. Here’s the latest on them through Friday.

D

urkey

The Durkee Fire in Baker County, Oregon, is the largest active fire in the U.S., merging with the Cow Fire to burn nearly 630 square miles (1,630 square kilometers). The fire started nine days ago and remains unpredictable, having been only 20% contained as of Friday.

Evacuations have been lifted for the small eastern Oregon town of Huntington after thunderstorms brought rain and cooler temperatures on Wednesday.

Park

The Park Fire in Butte County, California, near the city of Chico, has burned 260 square miles (666 square kilometers) and was considered completely out of control on Friday.

Evacuations were ordered in Butte and Tehama counties. About 4,000 residents in unincorporated areas of Butte County and 400 residents in Chico were ordered to evacuate, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said Thursday night. Two minor injuries were reported, more than 130 structures were destroyed and about 4,200 were threatened.

A California man arrested Thursday is accused of starting the state’s largest wildfire of the year by pushing a burning car into a ravine.

Jasper

A wildfire in the Canadian Rockies has burned down 360 square kilometers.

Officials said Thursday that the fire displaced 25,000 people as it swept through the nearly deserted town of Jasper overnight, destroying half of its buildings.

Cooler temperatures and rain on Friday kept the fire from spreading or behaving much less. The weather could keep the fires at bay for the next 72 hours, Jasper National Park said. But officials warned that warmer weather in the forecast could lead to more wildfire activity.

waterfalls

The man-made Falls Fire in Harney County, Oregon, has burned 220 square miles (567 square kilometers) and was 55% contained.

Evacuation orders remained in effect in Grant and Harney counties due to the Falls Fire and the nearby Telephone Fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Lonely rock

The Lone Rock fire in Gilliam County, Oregon, has burned 210 square miles (552 square kilometers) and is 45% contained.

According to a fire update on InciWeb, there was minimal to moderate fire behavior on Thursday, which allowed the fire department to make progress and better contain the fire. This significantly reduced the threat to buildings.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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