In pictures: Fierce winds power devastating California, Oregon wildfires

Oregon is the hardest-hit state in the western US, where nearly 100 extreme wildfires are burning, even as forecasters say some weather relief is in sight.

Butte county firefighters watch as flames tower over their truck during the Bear fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020.
AFP

Butte county firefighters watch as flames tower over their truck during the Bear fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020.

Wildfires have raged unchecked across parts of the western US amid gusty and dry conditions, but forecasters have said some weather relief was in sight that could help firefighters overwhelmed by the blazes.

Hundreds of homes have been lost to massive and unprecedented Oregon wildfires with a potentially historic number of fatalities feared in the northwestern US state, governor Kate Brown said on Wednesday.

In Washington, more acres burned in a single day than firefighters usually see all year. Fires also forced people to flee in Oregon and Idaho.

A temperature plunge of as much as 15 Degree Celsius, caused by a dramatic intrusion of polar air, helped slow wildfires in Colorado and Montana.

Diminishing winds were possible by Thursday, "bringing some relief to the ongoing fires and fire weather threat," forecasters said.

AP

Flames shoot from home as the Bear Fire burns through the Berry Creek area of Butte County, California.

AFP

A home burns during the Bear fire, part of the North Lightning Complex fires in the Berry Creek area of unincorporated Butte County, California.

AFP

Firefighters cut defensive lines and light backfires to protect structures behind a CalFire fire station during the Bear fire, California.

AFP

A boat motors by as the Bidwell Bar Bridge is surrounded by fire in Lake Oroville in California.

AFP

The charred remains of a vehicle is left on the side of a road during the Bear fire, part of the North Lightning Complex fires, in unincorporated Butte County, California.

AFP

A singed ice machine sits over a burned store in Butte County, California.

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