Western Wildfires Claim 3.4 Million Acres

86 Fires Now Burning; In Just Over Two Weeks, Acreage Of Charred Land Doubled The Western United States is on fire, with 1.7 million acres having burned in the first 17 days of July alone, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, released today. The season total is 3.4 million acres -- already 125% of the 10-year average. At present, 86 fires are burning across the West (plus one in Alaska), according to the latest federal tally. Behind the fires are three main factors -- record-setting heat, persistent drought, and the aftermath of small winter snowpacks in the mountains that resulted in low runoff. Those conditions are precisely those that scientists say will become more common as the climate continues to warm. Wildfires are among the weather-related events they are most confident in predicting as a consequence of global warming. Here's a look at some of the record-setting temperatures in the just one state in the Pacific Northwest:

• Hoquiam, Washington: All-time high of 99 degrees set July 10
• Bellingham, Washington: All-time high of 94 set July 11
• Seattle, Washington: Hottest day, 98 degrees, since 1994 on July 11