USDA: 170% Of Average Acreage Burned This Wildfire Season

Wildfires continue wreak havoc across the Pacific Northwest, with several large blazes still burning.

“We're still dealing with some very significant wildfires, the Big Grass Fire that has now become the largest U.S. wildfire of the year to date, with an acreage approaching 600,000 acres that has burned in southeastern Oregon and into southwestern parts of Idaho," said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. "It's a cross-state fire.”

If you thought we’ve seen a lot of acres burn across the west this summer, Rippey says you’re right.

“It's now crept above 7.2 million," Rippey said. "That puts us in the ballpark of about 170% of average for the typical number of acres burned nationwide by mid-August.”

It’s not uncommon to see monsoon rains roll in the southern parts of Idaho and Oregon, but Rippey said at this point, those showers falling on the eastern side of the Great Basin.

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