A number of wildfires are currently ablaze in the Western U.S. as severe drought envelops much of the region.
The 416 Fire in Colorado, which has scorched 27,420 acres since it broke out on June 1, has forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 homes and the closure of all 1.8 million acres of the San Juan National Forest.
The fire is currently 15 percent contained and no structures have been destroyed, the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team said.
The National Wildfire Coordinating Group noted that the blaze has been fueled by abnormally dry conditions and prolonged drought.
Large fires in the West are also burning the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona, the Gila National Forest in New Mexico, Manti-Lasal National Forest in Utah and Medicone Bow-Routt National Forest in Wyoming, the National Interagency Fire Center reported Tuesday.
New Mexico’s Santa Fe National Forest, one of the state’s most popular recreation sites, has been closed since June 1 due to fire danger.
The Buffalo Fire, a new fire in Colorado that erupted Tuesday, is edging dangerously close to a ski resort town and has already prompted the evacuation of more than 1,300 homes, the Associated Press reported.
Western states experienced a winter with very little precipitation and a hot spring, which poses a threat come fire season.
Climate change has been found to intensify drought conditions in the West.
High temperatures and dry conditions increase the chance of a fire starting and help fan an existing fire.