An unprecedented outbreak of wind-driven wildfires has erupted across parts of California, Oregon, and Washington in recent days, generating enormous clouds of thick smoke that have blanketed much of the Pacific Coast, affecting visibility and air quality. California’s wildfires this year have burned more than 2 million acres, setting a new record, according to the state’s fire department. Gathered below are images from the past few days of some of the dozens of fires currently active, as well as those battling against and affected by them.
Photos: Wildfires Rage Across the American West
-
The Golden Gate Bridge is barely visible through smoke from wildfires on Wednesday morning, September 9, 2020, in this view from Fort Baker near Sausalito, California. #
Eric Risberg / AP -
-
This image from a GOES satellite operated by NOAA shows the West Coast of the United States on the morning of September 9, 2020, with widespread smoke coverage from wildfires in Washington, Oregon, and California. #
NOAA -
-
Embers fly off burning timber as flames push toward homes during the Creek Fire in the Cascadel Woods area of unincorporated Madera County, California, on September 7, 2020. #
Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty -
-
-
A person uses heavy equipment to pour dirt on fire hotspots on September 8, 2020, after a wildfire destroyed homes and outbuildings in Graham, Washington, overnight, south of Seattle. #
Ted S. Warren / AP -
Little League players warm up before a game as a brush fire burns in the background, at a field next to the Sycuan Casino on the Sycuan Indian Reservation during the Valley Fire, near Dehesa, in San Diego, California, on September 6, 2020. #
Sandy Huffaker / AFP / Getty -
-
-
A home burns during the Bear Fire, part of the North Lightning Complex fires in the Berry Creek area of unincorporated Butte County, California, on September 9, 2020. #
Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty -
-
A family arrives with their two dogs and other precious belongings at an evacuation center that was set up at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem, Oregon, on September 8, 2020. The Red Cross spokesman, Chad Carter, said 600 evacuees had checked in by early Tuesday afternoon to the site, one of at least 10 fire evacuation centers in Oregon set up by the Red Cross. #
Andrew Selsky / AP -
-
Firefighters cut defensive lines and light backfires to protect structures behind a CalFire fire station during the Bear Fire, part of the North Lightning Complex fires in the Berry Creek area of unincorporated Butte County, California, on September 9, 2020. #
Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty -
-
-
A melted slide smolders as a playground continues to burn at Pine Ridge School during the Creek Fire in an unincorporated area of Fresno County, California, on September 8, 2020. #
Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty -
-
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.