Calmer weather helps crews fighting Western wildfires

Lorne Brunson stands on a hill overlooking remains of his homestead on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015, which was lost to a wildfire Saturday near Coyote Canyon in Fruitland, Wash. Firefighters across the Pacific Northwest are working to protect property from fast-moving wildfires that destroyed multiple homes in eastern Oregon, cut off power in Washington and forced thousands of evacuations throughout the region. (Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review, via AP) COEUR D'ALENE PRESS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

By Associated Press August 18, 2015 4 min read

Fire crews stepped up their attack Monday against wildfires that have destroyed dozens of homes and forced hundreds to flee in Western states.

Calmer weather on Sunday helped firefighters tighten their grip on the blazes, but dry, hot weather is expected in the days ahead.

With most available firefighters, aircraft and engines already working on the wildfires, the National Interagency Fire Center announced Monday that it was calling on the military for help. Two hundred active-duty troops will spend most of this week training, managers at the fire center said, and they will be deployed to a fire on Aug. 23.

It’s the first time the agency has mobilized the military since 2006.

A look at conditions: