People returned to find their homes reduced to rubble following a destructive wildfire in Washington state, while crews battled blazes in California and Nevada.
Here’s a look at hotspots around the West:
___
WASHINGTON
Vern Smith was among those in Wenatchee searching for something to salvage after a fast-moving wildfire destroyed two dozen houses and several businesses in the central Washington city.
Smith pointed to what had been his garage.
“You can’t tell from here, but that’s a brand new truck,” he said, looking at the burned vehicle.
The fire, which began Sunday, was the worst so far this season as the state struggles with a severe drought. Mountain snowpack is extremely low, and about one-fifth of the state’s rivers and streams are at record low levels.
By Tuesday evening, fire officials reported progress against the fire that has burned more than 4 square miles on the north side of the city, even as they cautioned that more hot, dry weather lies ahead for the July 4 holiday. The fire was 47 percent contained, up from 10 percent Tuesday morning, fire spokeswoman Kay McKellar said.
Elsewhere in central Washington, a wildfire has burned across nearly 5 ½ square miles of sagebrush and grass south of the small town of Mansfield, about 40 miles northeast of Wenatchee. That fire was reported 50 percent contained by Tuesday night and no longer threatened any homes.
Also in Washington, authorities say multiple small brush fires that slowed southbound traffic on Interstate 5 north of Seattle were likely set by arsonists.
___
CALIFORNIA
Firefighters made progress against wildfires burning throughout California but weather was becoming a potential problem as a heat wave built in some regions and the threat of thunderstorms, gusty winds and lightning persisted elsewhere.
A 320-acre blaze that erupted outside the Santa Barbara County city of Lompoc on Monday and forced 1,200 people to flee was three-quarters contained and evacuations were lifted, fire Capt. Dave Zaniboni said Tuesday.
The fire broke out behind the Spanish colonial-era La Purisima Mission, but the structures in what is now a state historic park escaped damage. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
In the inland region east of Los Angeles, a 49-square-mile wildfire in the San Bernardino National Forest was 60 percent contained. Firefighters worked on hotspots, and some crews were being inserted into wilderness areas for three- or four-day stays to reduce travel time to and from fire lines.
___
NEVADA
In northern Nevada, crews battled a lightning-caused wildfire.
The Nevada Division of Forestry said Tuesday that a fire was burning sage and grass in a 7-square-mile area on private land north of Interstate 80, about half way between Battle Mountain and Elko.
There were no immediate threats to buildings or people.