Wildfires Continue to Burn in US West and Europe, Air Quality Alerts Issued

Wildfires continue to pose significant threats in the US West and parts of Europe. In the US, the National Interagency Fire Center reports 90 uncontained large fires nationally, with extreme fire behavior, residences threatened, and evacuations in effect for fires like the Shingle Fire in Oregon (39,137 acres, 0% containment). Montana has issued an Air Quality Alert due to elevated particulate levels from wildfire smoke, with hot, dry, and windy conditions contributing to rapid fire spread. In Europe, France is battling devastating wildfires, with over 242,000 acres burned this year, while Spain has a major fire still active in Castellón. Spain's national meteorology agency forecasts a fourth heat wave starting Wednesday, which could worsen wildfire conditions.