A severe heat wave and massive wildfires are troubling people in the US and Canada: Yesterday, more than one million hectares of land were on fire in the western US and Canada.

The US states of Oregon, California and Arizona, as well as the Canadian province of British Columbia, are particularly affected, according to officials.

up to 47 °C

Over the past few days, extreme temperatures reached much of the interior of the United States – right up to the edge of the Rocky Mountains. Southern California recorded temperatures of up to 47 degrees Celsius, and a heat warning was issued for communities outside the city of Los Angeles.

A massive fire broke out near Lake Tahoe in the US state of California. Extreme heat, rising winds, low humidity and dry vegetation helped the fire spread.

In the neighboring state of Oregon, fires have tripled since Friday and spread to more than 150,000 hectares. The fire now threatens California’s electricity supply as well.

Across the border, officials in the Canadian province of British Columbia recorded a temperature of 36 degrees Celsius yesterday, well above seasonal norms.