In the midst of a heat wave, fires are multiplying in the American West

In California, forest fires have ravaged 840 square kilometers since the beginning of the year,

In Riverside County near Los Angeles, two wildfires broke out Sunday that have burned at least 2,000 acres (800 hectares), destroyed a handful of buildings and prompted evacuation orders. In total, California firefighters are battling 21 wildfires of varying sizes in California, according to the CalFire agency.

The task of fighting the flames is expected to be difficult due to the heat wave affecting the American West. More than 30 million Americans were affected by heatwave warnings on Monday, particularly in California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington State and Oregon.

In mid-July, California Governor Gavin Newsom warned of a wildfire season that “looks very active”after two years of respite allowed by very rainy winters. The vegetation that has grown back is becoming very dry, under the effect of repeated heat waves since the beginning of June, which facilitates the spread of fires. By mid-July, forest fires had ravaged 840 square kilometers since the beginning of the year, compared to an average of 156 at the same time over the last five years.

California also sent firefighters last week to neighboring Oregon, where the wildfire season “started very aggressively”according to Governor Tina Kotek. The normally more temperate northwest state is currently being hit by about 20 wildfires. Utah is also being hit by a wildfire that broke out Saturday near Salt Lake City. The fire has forced the evacuation of about 40 homes in the hills north of the city, and has caused panic among some residents who saw the flames up close.