wildfires

After 18 months of building, the Holetts were nearly set to move into their dream home in Dayton, Mont. It took their life savings to build the cabin. It took one wildfire to burn it down in minutes.

The death toll doubled when two additional bodies were found within the burn zone of the McKinney Fire, the state's largest blaze of the year.

Crews battling the largest wildfire so far this year in California braced for thunderstorms and hot, windy conditions that created the potential for additional fire growth Sunday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as the McKinney fire intensified. In Montana, the Elmo fire grew to more than 11 square miles. Other states are also dealing with wildfires.

Many Western states lack building codes for wildfire-resistant homes. But a new study finds the costs can be minimal, undercutting long-held building industry arguments against such codes.

As drought and extreme temperatures persist across the region, some residents in Northwestern Oklahoma are evacuating their homes as a wildfire continues to scorch thousands of acres. Firefighters are hoping the rain forecasted for the end of the week will offer some relief.

Crews battling the Oak Fire in California's Mariposa County got a break from increased humidity levels. The blaze, which forced the evacuations of thousands, was 26% contained, Cal Fire said.

The Oak Fire started Friday afternoon southwest of the park near the town of Midpines. By Sunday, it had rapidly grown to 22 square miles.

The action would speed up projects to clear underbrush to protect the world's largest trees from the increasing threat of wildfires.

The wide-ranging report found the number of Australian species listed as threatened had increased since the 2016 report.