Wildfires broke out in California and Utah, and houses were burned down during intense heat, and evacuation advisories were issued

The wildfires that occurred over the weekend have burned hundreds of acres of land in California and Utah, set fire to homes, threatened neighboring communities, and burned near the state capitol in Salt Lake City, prompting evacuation orders.

The fire hit the western part of the country amid intense heat which is expected to continue throughout this week. The National Weather Service has issued heat warnings and advisories, assuming that 3-digit temperatures are expected in multiple states, from Southern California to Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming.

In Southern California, the Hawarden Fire, located just 4 miles south of downtown Riverside, broke out on Sunday afternoon and expanded to over 520 acres. Three houses were burnt down by the roaring flames captured on video by a local news crew.

Riverside's Deputy Fire Chief Steve McKinster said at a news conference Monday that four other buildings have been damaged, and there are 1,500 homes in the surrounding area. The damage investigation is scheduled to begin Monday morning. According to McKinster, one firefighter was slightly injured.

Another wildfire that broke out in Riverside County on Sunday, the Eagle Fire spread to 1,600 acres and triggered an evacuation order, but the evacuation order was eventually lowered because firefighters were able to contain at least 50% of the flames and stop “moving forward,” according to the California Fire Service. The fire started in the city of Corona, about 18 miles southwest of Riverside. Evacuation advisories have been issued at several locations until Monday morning.

In Humboldt County, located west of Reading, evacuation advisories have been issued for several areas due to the Hill Fire, which burned an area of more than 5,580 acres since last Tuesday. According to the California State Fire Department, the fire subsided to 7%, but at least 5 people were injured. According to the California Fire Department, in Lake County and Colusa County, the Ridge Fire has spread to 2,500 acres since Saturday, and some residents have been evacuated.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said at a press conference at the beginning of this month that the number of fires that have occurred is the same as an average year, but the state “disproportionately large amount of area burned down.” Newsom cited “unprecedented heat” as a central factor in the rapid increase.

Utah fire threatens homes near state capitol

The wildfires weren't limited to California. Over the weekend, a fire broke out in Salt Lake City, just north of the state capitol, threatening homes and issuing evacuation orders.

The Sandhurst fire was first reported Saturday afternoon and quickly spread to over 200 acres, so local emergency responders knocked on doors and evacuated residents in the hilly area north of the state capitol.

According to the Utah State Wildfire Dashboard, 10% of the fires have been extinguished as of Sunday. No injuries or damage to buildings have been reported.

The fire is said to have been “man-made,” but details are unknown. The Salt Lake City Police Department announced on Sunday on X that all evacuation orders had been lifted.

According to Utah fire information, nearly 600 wildfires occurred in Utah this year, and more than 0.04 million acres of land were burned down. Of these, 425 cases are believed to be man-made.