Western US Megafire Burns 145,000 Acres, 63% Contained Amid Multiple Regional Fires

The Dragon Bravo fire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, initially a controlled burn meant to rejuvenate the forest, dramatically escalated into a megafire, burning over 145,000 acres and becoming the largest wildfire in the U.S. this year. Fire officials had implemented containment lines and allowed the fire to burn naturally, but high winds caused it to jump the lines, overwhelming firefighting efforts. This incident has raised concerns among ecologists and fire management experts about the risks and benefits of prescribed burns in sensitive, high-profile areas. Meanwhile, wildfires remain active across the western United States and parts of Canada, producing significant smoke plumes affecting large regions, including central Idaho, western Colorado, and extending eastward to the Great Lakes and Mississippi Valley. The Red Canyon Fire in southeast Wyoming has seen progress with containment increasing to nearly 50%, aided by low fire activity and firefighting tactics such as defensive firing and aerial heat detection. Weather conditions with potential thunderstorms pose ongoing risks for fire spread in the affected areas.