Oregon Bootleg fire grows to 143,000 acres as Western wildfires intensify in heatwave, killing 2 firefighters in Arizona
FIREFIGHTERS across the West are scrambling to contain growing wildfires as the Oregon Bootleg fire has grown to cover 143,000 acres and two firefighters in Arizona were killed fighting the blaze.
Oregon is facing dangerous conditions as the Bootleg fire has entered its fifth day and has eaten up 143,607 acres of the Fremont-Winema National Forest.
Fire incident commander Al Lawson said: “The fire behavior we are seeing on the Bootleg Fire is among the most extreme you can find and firefighters are seeing conditions they have never seen before.
"We understand the frustration of the community as the fire continues to grow.
"We also need to ensure our firefighters are able to engage safely so that they can return home at the end of this assignment to their families," Lawson added.
"The accident occurred around noon today (July 10) and involved an air attack aircraft performing aerial reconnaissance and command and control over the fire."
"Two crew members were on board and we are sad to report there were no survivors. We will provide additional information pending next of kin notification.
Meanwhile, the Tennant Fire continues to rage through the Klamath National Forest in Northern California.
As of 6am on July 10, the Tennant Fire has burned 10,580 acres and is 95 percent contained, the reports.
posted online by National Weather Service Medford shows the moment a "fire whirl" ripped up trees into a fiery tornado on June 29.
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NWS Medford explained the unique occurrence was a result of the Tennant Fire, which started one day before in the Klamath National Forest in northern California's, Siskiyou County.
"Fire whirls range in size from less than one foot to more than 500 feet in diameter. Large fire whirls have the intensity of a small tornado."