Wildfires rage in western U.S.

Wildfires rage in western U.S.

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More than a dozen major blazes burned in parched Western U.S. states, sparking evacuation orders for thousands of people.

Fires have blackened more than 1 million acres (400,000 hectares) across the arid Western region, prompting fire managers to call in help from the U.S. Army and abroad to reinforce civilian crews.

. Chelan, UNITED STATES. Reuters/David Ryder

The fires have wrought damage and disruption in western states from Washington to Oregon, Idaho and drought-stricken California.

Chelan, a resort town at the southern tip of Lake Chelan in north-central Washington, is just one town affected. Fires destroyed at least 35 homes and 21 outbuildings on the outskirts of the town. More than 2,000 people were ordered from their homes in the area.

. Chelan, United States. Reuters/David Ryder

The blazes bring the national year-to-date tally of area burned beyond 7 million acres (2.9 million hectares). That figure had not been reached so early in the year for two decades.

Firefighters dug containment lines around about half of a wildfire burning on the outskirts of Chelan.

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Slideshow

A speed limit sign was damaged by fire.
. Chelan, United States. Reuters/David Ryder

A speed limit sign was damaged by fire.

A fire left the carcass of a truck and home in its wake.
. Chelan, United States. Reuters/David Ryder

A fire left the carcass of a truck and home in its wake.

Railroad sleepers smoulder in an area affected by fire.
. Chelan, United States. Reuters/David Ryder

Railroad sleepers smoulder in an area affected by fire.

A truck travels above a charred hillside.
. Chelan, United States. Reuters/David Ryder

A truck travels above a charred hillside.

Horses graze in an area that was spared from fire.
. Chelan, United States. Reuters/David Ryder

Horses graze in an area that was spared from fire.

A firefighter examines the remnants of a barn razed to the ground by fire.
. Chelan, United States. Reuters/David Ryder TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A firefighter examines the remnants of a barn razed to the ground by fire.

Soil and trees are seen burnt by fire.
. Chelan, United States. Reuters/David Ryder

Soil and trees are seen burnt by fire.

The remnants of a structure burnt lie on the ground.
. Chelan, United States. Reuters/David Ryder

The remnants of a structure burnt lie on the ground.

The sun is seen through smoke.
. Pateros, United States. Reuters/David Ryder

The sun is seen through smoke.