California and Oregon are once again facing a severe wildfire crisis, with over 500,000 acres burned in just two weeks. High winds and extreme heat have intensified the fires, prompting mass evacuations and emergency declarations in several counties.
Authorities have deployed over 7,000 firefighters, but containment remains difficult. Power lines and infrastructure are at risk, and smoke has spread as far as Canada and the Midwest.
The wildfire threat comes earlier than expected this year, raising alarms about climate-linked shifts. Indian and Nepali-origin firefighters, who form a growing part of the seasonal U.S. forest workforce, are among those deployed in the frontlines.