Wildfires Char Western U.S.

Montana — AP/Great Falls Tribune, R. Loznak

The Novak fire burns on a ridge near Interstate 15 south of Cascade, Mont., late in the evening Sunday, July 22, 2007. Dozens of other large fires are burning across the West, primarily in Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah.

Utah

A heavy air tanker drops fire retardant to protect a home Sunday, July 22, 2007, in Nephi, Utah. Dozens of other large fires are burning across the West, primarily in Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah.

Juab County Sheriff Alden Orme watches a section of the Salt Creek Fire as another section burns out of control behind him along Utah Highway 132, Friday, July 20, 2007, outside Nephi, Utah. Dozens of other large fires are burning across the West, primarily in Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah.

Montana

Steve Michels leads his horse, Hank, to safety and a waiting horse trailer as the Little Wolf Creek fire approaches near Wolf Creek, Mont., Thursday, July 19, 2007. Fire officials braced Friday for hotter, drier weather expected this weekend that could fuel a pair of wildfires threatening homes and campgrounds near Wolf Creek and Augusta.

Nevada

A road grader moves away from a wall of flames on the Marge Fire at Maggie Creek Ranch west of Elko, Nev., Wednesday, July 18, 2007.

Wildfires — AP Photo/Brad Horn, Nevada Appeal

The Hawken fire is seen burning north of Virginia City, Nev., on Wednesday morning, July 18, 2007. The wildfire, which was 15 percent contained, had burned about 1,700-acres, forced evacuations, and threatened 400 homes. Almost half of the 72 large fires burning nationally are in Nevada and Idaho.

In this image taken from video, a lightning bolt strikes as ranchers look on as the Stevens Fire rages at the Jeff and Karen Dahl ranch in Starr Valley, Nev., Monday, July 16, 2007.

Utah

An airplane makes a drop on a wildfire Sunday, July 8, 2007, near Cove Fort, Utah. Fires blackened the landscape in California, Utah, Nevada, Washington, Colorado, Montana and Oregon, many started by lightning and fueled by the dry conditions, made worse by a heat wave that sizzled across the West.

Michael Rutherford, owner of the Dog Valley Trading Post sifts through the remains of the gift shop after a wildfire swept through, Sunday, July 8, 2007, in Cove Fort, Utah. A massive wildfire that has swept across two central Utah counties grew to 283,000 acres, the largest in the state's recorded history, officials said.

Wildland firefighters prepare to head to a ridge above a home during the Milford Flat wildfire, Sunday, July 8, 2007, near Cove Fort, Utah. A massive wildfire has swept across two central Utah counties, charring 283,000 acres as of Sunday.

Virginia Carey uses a hose to douse out hotspots in the remains of her home that was destroyed by the Milford Flat wildfire, Sunday, July 8, 2007, in Cove Fort, Utah. A massive wildfire that has swept across two central Utah counties grew to 283,000 acres Sunday.

The Milford Flat fire burns around Interstate 15 near the Interstate 80 interchange, seen in this aerial view Sunday, July 8, 2007, near Fillmore, Utah. The massive wildfire has swept across two central Utah counties, charring 283,000 acres -- the largest in the state's recorded history, officials said.

The remains of a road sign sits in the road Saturday, July 7, 2007, near Cove Fort, Utah. It was burned Saturday afternoon, when the fire jumped the freeway. The massive wildfire swept across two central Utah counties, growing to 283,000 acres.

Smoke rises from the Milford Flat Fire late Saturday, July 7, 2007, east of Milford, Utah. The massive wildfire jumped a freeway Saturday, forcing the closure of Interstate 15 for a 100-mile stretch through central Utah, fire officials said.

Several small fires, from the Milford Flat Fire, can be seen burning at night along Interstate 15 near Fillmore, Utah, on Saturday, July 7, 2007.

Smoke fills the sky in Fillmore, Utah, as the Milford Flat fire forced the closure of Interstate 15 on Saturday, July 7, 2007.

South Dakota

A fire smolders on Sunday, July 8, 2007, near Hot Springs, S.D. A state official said the blaze is the most intense wildfire ever recorded in the Black Hills.

California

A motorist drives past a brush fire burning along the 14 Freeway near Santa Clarita, Calif., Saturday, July 7, 2007.

Los Angeles County firefighters battle a brush fire near Santa Clarita, Calif., Saturday, July 7, 2007.

Colorado

An Orion slurry bomber lays down a line of protection for a home threatened by a wildfire between Rifle and Rulison, Colo., Friday, July 6, 2007. Officials reported three structures were destroyed including one home by the wildfire which was believed to be caused by lightning.