Oregon wildfire explodes to half the size of Rhode Island

27/7/2024 6:19

        Winds and lightning strikes have sparked and fanned wildfires across the Pacific Northwest this week, including the largest fire in the United States, near the
        Oregon-Idaho border, which grew rapidly on Friday, fire officials said.
        
        The Durkee Fire near Huntington, Oregon, about 100 miles (160 km) north of Boise, Idaho, has scorched 600 square miles (1,553 square km), an area more than half the size of Rhode Island's land mass. It has threatened several towns.
        
        The blaze was sparked by lightning on July 17, and wind gusts up to 60 mph (97 kph) drove the flames across brush, timberland and ranches, killing hundreds of cattle. The fire was only 20% contained on Friday, officials said.
        
        Firefighters might get relief in the coming days, forecasters said. While there is zero chance of rain through next week, winds have dropped and cooler air is in store, said meteorologist Marc Chenard of the National Weather Service.