Tuesday, September 10

Wildfires are raging across the western United States once again, with multiple fires scorching California, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon.

Here are some of the largest fires burning across the West:

• Rail Ridge Fire: This fire is not in a very populated area, but is one of the worst fires burning right now. Located in eastern Oregon, the Rail Ridge Fire has burned over 152,000 acres and is only 7% contained. It was started from natural causes.

• Wapiti Fire: Also in a relatively unpopulated area, the Wapiti Fire has scorched over 121,000 acres in central Idaho and is only 12% contained. It started from natural causes. However, it still poses a threat-- the fire is located just 100 miles away from Idaho's capital of Boise, causing air quality in the city has plummeted in recent days.

• Lava Fire: This fire is located quite close to the Wapiti Fire, around western Idaho near the border with Oregon. It started from natural causes, has burned over 71,000 acres, and is only 0% contained.

• Line Fire: One of the biggest fires making headlines in recent days has been the Line Fire. The wildfire began on Thursday and has since exploded in size, expanding from 1,180 acres on Friday evening to 17,200 acres by Saturday night. It is located in San Bernardino County in a heavily populated area, as the fire is on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Over 1,800 firefighters are trying to fight the flames, which have endangered over 36,000 structures and caused evacuations for at least 4,800 homes. The wildfire's cause is still unknown, but it has reached 23,000 acres in size and is only 3% contained. In fact, the Line Fire is even creating its own weather-- the smoke from the fire is organizing into what are known as pyrocumulus clouds. Some areas are even creating pyrocumulonimbus clouds, which can spark intense lightning and drop heavy rain, leading to flash flooding.

This has been one of the worst-ever fire seasons for the western United States, and it isn't over yet. Triple-digit heat indexes will continue to plague southern California for the next few days, and strong winds across the region are blowing fires into new areas. Fire crews are trying their hardest to stop the flames before they destroy more structures, but they will need some help from the weather to do that.

Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Contrary to popular belief, the letter D in D-Day does not stand for “doom” or “disaster”—it simply stands for “day.” The military marks important operations and invasions with a D as a placeholder-- meaning that D-Day is actually short for Day-Day.

Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Destiny is not necessarily what we get out of life, but rather, what we give. (Cary Grant)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Ambivalent (adj)- Someone described as ambivalent has or displays very different feelings (such as love and hate) about someone or something at the same time.

In a Sentence: Aya was ambivalent about starting her first year away at college—excited for the new opportunities that awaited but sad to leave her friends and family back home.