Firefighters Stretched Thin Across the West as 35 Wildfires Rage Uncontained

Nearly three dozen large wildfires raged uncontained across the Western U.S. Thursday as firefighters grappled with windy and dry weather, according to a government report.

The National Interagency Fire Center, the federal agency behind Thursday’s report, assessed the country’s readiness at preparedness level 4, meaning many fire-fighting resources have already been deployed. The fires have struck a long list of states including California, Idaho, Montana and Utah.

Several large wildfires have attracted attention this year, including a fire that destroyed more than 47 square miles in California earlier this month. That fire, known as the Blue Cut fire, led to the evacuation of more than 80,000 people.

Wildfires have increased in frequency and severity in recent years thanks at least in part to dry weather and increased temperatures.