West Coast wildfires continue to rage: At least 36 people dead, nearly 5 million acres torched; smoke cloud reaches East Coast



Raging wildfires are still wrecking havoc along the West Coast, and now there are almost 90 wildfires in nearly a dozen states, the National Interagency Fire Center reported Tuesday.

So far the fires have burned an estimated 4.8 million acres, with a majority of the damage occurring in California, Oregon, Washington, and now Idaho.

According to the NIFC, firefighters have been able to contain six large fires — one in Montana, two in Oregon, and three in California.

The NIFC said that 11 states are currently reporting a total of 87 large fires:

● Arizona (1)
● California (23)
● Colorado (4)
● Idaho (13)
● Montana (9)
● Nevada (1)
● Oregon (12)
● South Dakota (1)
● Utah (6)
● Washington (15)
● Wyoming (2)

Dozens dead, many more missing

As tens of thousands of people continue to be displaced, the casualty count continues to rise.

According to CNN's latest reporting, at least 36 people have been killed in the West Coast wildfires. Of those killed, 25 were in the California fires, 10 in Oregon, and one in Washington.

The Oregon Office of Emergency Management's website said Tuesday that at least 22 people are missing in the state and at least 1,145 homes have been destroyed.

'Dangerous' smoke — and its spreading

The smoke in the region has led IQAir, a group that tracks global air quality, to report that the West Coast currently has the worst air quality in the world, CNN said.

Virtually all of Washington is covered by "unbelievably irritating, downright unhealthy and dangerous" smoke, Gov. Jay Inslee announced.

And in Oregon, USA Today reported, at least 10% of emergency room visits are for asthma-like symptoms.

Now, the growing smoke cloud has reached the Atlantic Ocean.

AccuWeather meteorologist Matt Benz told USA Today that wildfire smoke has finally traveled thousands of miles and reached the East Coast.

According to USA Today, Benz said "you can draw a line from California through St. Louis and on to Norfolk, Virginia — pretty much everyplace north of that line is looking at smoke-tainted skies."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration posted a map showing just how much smoke is currently covering the U.S.

Image source: NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations screenshot

Authorities arrest 2 more suspects on arson charges as West Coast fires rage on



As devastating fires rage across the West Coast, authorities have arrested at least two more people suspected of arson.

Washington troopers arrested Jeffrey Acord, 36, who allegedly attempted to set a fire along SR-167 in Puyallup last Wednesday. An off-duty police sergeant was traveling north on the road when he spotted a Chevrolet pickup truck parked on the shoulder of Route 167. The truck, reportedly driven by Acord, merged back onto the highway as Fife Police Sgt. Kevin approached in his vehicle.

"I soon noticed that there was a small fire starting to grow in the dry grass directly next to the location where the pickup truck had been stopped," Sgt. Kevin said.

Kevin reported the fire and pulled over the truck. When he confronted Acord, the suspect began livestreaming his arrest on Facebook.

"The guy was live streaming (on Facebook) like he found the fire," Trooper Ryan Burke said. "He was trying to make it look like he didn't do it."

The video has since been taken down. Acord was charged with second-degree arson and booked into Puyallup City Jail. He posted bail early the next morning.

Less than two hours after he posted bail, police responded to a break-in at a convenience store three blocks from the police station. Police say they recognized Acord on surveillance video and arrested him again on charges of second-degree burglary for allegedly kicking in a window covered with plywood and stealing drinks and snacks.

In Oregon, deputies arrested 44-year-old Jonathan Maas on suspicion of arson in the first degree. He is accused of attempting to start a fire in the woods near a disc golf course at Dexter State Recreation Area last week.

"The fire was in a wooded area and was approximately 5 feet in diameter before it was extinguished by two people playing frisbee golf in the area," police said. "A man in a minivan was seen leaving the area shortly before the fire was discovered."

The Lane County Sheriff's Office investigated, and Maas was arrested last Thursday.

"While this fire was discovered and extinguished before it grew in size, the potential for the fire to have spread quickly was there," the sheriff's office said. "We are thankful for the community members who spotted and extinguished the fire before it was able to hurt anyone or cause any structure damage."

Last week, authorities arrested four other individuals suspected of starting fires in California, Oregon, and Washington. One suspect, Domingo Lopez Jr., was arrested a second time after allegedly starting six more fires after his initial arrest.

The death toll from dozens of fires burning across the West Coast has reached 35, with fires burning approximately 5 million acres and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

Authorities arrest 4 people on arson charges in deadly and massive California, Oregon, and Washington wildfires



Authorities have arrested at least four people for suspected arson in the massive and still-growing wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington.

What are the details?

According to reports, authorities in those states say that at least four of the fires are considered suspicious.

California authorities arrested suspect Anita Esquivel for allegedly intentionally setting fires along U.S. 101.

She was booked into the Monterey County Jail on arson charges.

Oregon authorities also arrested Michael Jarrod Bakkela, who lived in the woods of Oregon on two counts of arson, 15 counts of criminal mischief, and 14 counts of reckless endangerment.

Oregon Live reports that Bakkela is reportedly responsible for setting one of two major wildfires in the state, which has killed dozens and displaced hundreds.

Oregon State Fire Marshal's office spokesperson Rich Tyler added that the fire Bakkela reportedly set is considered to be one of two origins of the Almeda fire.

Jackson County Sheriff's Office PIO Mike Moran told ABC News that the fire has caused "significant damage."

"There are numerous homes, many of which are burnt completely, some are just heavily damaged, that are part of the 15 counts of criminal mischief," he said.

According to Oregon Live, authorities have told area residents to prepare for a "mass fatality incident" due to the fires.

Washington authorities arrested two unrelated suspects who reportedly set small fires in the brush in two different areas of freeway.

CNN on Thursday reported that the wildfires across the western states torched more than 4 million acres, which is roughly the size of the state of New Jersey.

Anything else?

The FBI on Friday released a statement about reports that "extremists" were responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon.

"FBI Portland and local law enforcement agencies have been receiving reports that extremists are responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon," the statement rad. "With our state and local partners, the FBI has investigated several such reports and found them to be untrue. Conspiracy theories and misinformation take valuable resources away local fire and police agencies working around the clock to bring these fires under control. Please help our entire community by only sharing validated information from official sources."