From singular explosions and accidents that led to acres of damage, wildfires continue to spread, and they will not be over anytime soon. 

Since the beginning of August, wildfires have been spreading on the west coast. Large amounts of land have experienced colossal damage as a result of these fires, and according to The Washington Post, the fires have destroyed over 3.7 million acres of land and killed 26 people with it. In California alone, according to the Times of San Diego, there are 7,000 fires still burning. 

The fires are said to have started by human actions, whether that be by a gender reveal party gone-wrong, sparking up the dry vegetation, power transmission lines that may have ignited sparks or by natural phenomenons like lightning strikes in dry areas. Firefighters in these western states have been working non-stop to combat the fires and have even brought out-of-state firefighters to aid as well.

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, says the continual wildfires are the result of climate change. 

“What we’re experiencing right here is coming to communities all across the United States of America unless we get our act together on climate change,” Newsom said.

Phillip B. Duffy, a climate scientist and president of Woodwell Climate Research Center, says it makes sense that climate change is a big factor in these wildfires in an interview with The New York Times. 

“Warmer and drier conditions create drier fuel. What would have been a fire easily extinguished now just grows very quickly and becomes out of control,” Duffy said.

The wildfires have been burning for months now, and firefighters predict it will not come to an end in the near future. These fires have shown themselves to be capable of destroying neighborhoods and towns as well. Many citizens have evacuated, with over 500,000 people in Oregon alone ordered to leave, which is about 10% of the population, according to CNBC. 

To help those affected by the west coast wildfires, victims or first responders, the Red Cross as well as their Northwest Response Fund is accepting donations. Survivors and witnesses’ stories are also available to read online.