Record-breaking heat raises risk of fires across western US as blazes grow in Montana

LOS ANGELES (NewsNation Now) — Dangerous, record-busting heat spread across the West Wednesday as a dome of high pressure hovered over a large swath of the region, pushing temperatures into the triple digits this week and intensifying the risk for wildfires amid a long-running drought.

Some of the highest temperatures were seen in bone-dry Arizona, where the National Weather Service forecast a record high of 117 degrees in Phoenix. The previous high for the date was 115 degrees, set in 1974.

The excessive heat stretched from southeast California across Arizona and Nevada and into New Mexico, where a high of 103 degrees Monday at Albuquerque’s airport set a record. It was expected to hit near that Tuesday.

Palmdale, in Southern California’s Mojave Desert, hit 107 degrees, breaking a record of 105 set in 1966.

“More records are at risk tomorrow [Wednesday],” the National Weather Service for Los Angeles tweeted.

In Montana, fires have exploded in size, triggering evacuations and destroying an unknown number of homes as furious winds stoked the blazes and caused a firefighting helicopter to crash-land, officials said Wednesday.

The sudden ramping up of what started as a relatively quiet fire season came as record-high, triple-digit temperatures early in the week baked much of Montana and portions of northern Wyoming. At least 14 new fires were reported in the two states since Tuesday.

Smoke from the Robertson Draw wildfire could seen from space Tuesday, footage released by the NOAA Satellite and Information Service shows.

The California Independent System Operator, which runs the state’s power grid, said Tuesday that it could issue “Flex Alerts” Wednesday and Thursday because torrid conditions engulfing the West have tightened energy supplies.

Disruptions such as wildfires that burn transmission lines, mechanical failure at power plants or other unexpected problems could lead to the alerts. This would be the first Flex Alerts of the year, according to NewsNation affiliate KTLA.

The potential Flex Alerts would be in effect during the hours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Utility customers would be asked to set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, avoid using major appliances and turn off unnecessary lights.

During a heat wave last August, California experienced rolling blackouts over two days, affecting hundreds of thousands of people for several hours. They were the first in 19 years, when blackouts in 2001 contributed to the recall of former Gov. Gray Davis.

Temperatures in the Las Vegas area also were rising toward possible records during what the weather service was calling the hottest spell in decades.

“It’s just going up from here,” said meteorologist Ashley Nickerson of the weather service’s Las Vegas office.

Salvation Army hydration station volunteer Paul Spiri, left, hands out water during a heatwave as temperatures hit 115-degrees Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Salvation Army hydration station volunteer Kathleen McAllister, right, hands out water during a heatwave sending temperatures above 115-degrees, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
In this photo provided by the Custer Gallatin National Forest, the Robertson Draw fire burns near Red Lodge, Mont., on Monday, June 14, 2021. Authorities warned of extreme wildfire danger in Montana and Wyoming Tuesday as a sweltering heat wave was forecast to intensify across large parts of the two states after already delivering record high temperatures. (Custer Gallatin National Forest via AP)
Salvation Army hydration station volunteer Paul Spiri, right, hands out water during a heatwave as temperatures hit 115-degrees, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
A pedestrian takes a bottle of water at a Salvation Army hydration station during a heatwave as temperatures hit 115-degrees, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Families beat the heat in the calm and shallow waters of Squirrel Creek Tuesday afternoon, June 15, 2021, in Western Gateway Park in Penn Valley, Calf. High temperatures are expected to hit the 108 degree mark Thursday and Friday. (Elias Funez/The Union via AP)
In this photo provided by Jim Bentler, the Robertson Draw fire is seen burning south of Red Lodge, Mont., on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Authorities warned of extreme wildfire danger in Montana and Wyoming Tuesday as a sweltering heat wave was forecast to intensify across large parts of the two states after already delivering record high temperatures. (Jim Bentler via AP)
A man floats in the Great Salt Lake Tuesday, June 15, 2021, near Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City set another heat record Tuesday, June 15, 2021, and experienced its hottest day of the year as the state’s record-breaking heat wave persists. Utah’s capitol hit 104 degrees, breaking the previous heat record for that date of 103 degrees, according to information from the National Weather Service. On Monday, Salt Lake City hit 103 degrees to break a heat record for that date set nearly 50 years ago. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Amelia Gotbetter stands at the Great Salt Lake Tuesday, June 15, 2021, near Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City set another heat record Tuesday, June 15, 2021, and experienced its hottest day of the year as the state’s record-breaking heat wave persists. Utah’s capitol hit 104 degrees, breaking the previous heat record for that date of 103 degrees, according to information from the National Weather Service. On Monday, Salt Lake City hit 103 degrees to break a heat record for that date set nearly 50 years ago. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Amelia Gotbetter walks along the Great Salt Lake Tuesday, June 15, 2021, near Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City set another heat record Tuesday, June 15, 2021, and experienced its hottest day of the year as the state’s record-breaking heat wave persists. Utah’s capitol hit 104 degrees, breaking the previous heat record for that date of 103 degrees, according to information from the National Weather Service. On Monday, Salt Lake City hit 103 degrees to break a heat record for that date set nearly 50 years ago. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
William and Kayla Darling play with their son King along the Great Salt Lake Tuesday, June 15, 2021, near Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City set another heat record Tuesday, June 15, 2021, and experienced its hottest day of the year as the state’s record-breaking heat wave persists. Utah’s capitol hit 104 degrees, breaking the previous heat record for that date of 103 degrees, according to information from the National Weather Service. On Monday, Salt Lake City hit 103 degrees to break a heat record for that date set nearly 50 years ago. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Jessica Sheetz floats in the Great Salt Lake, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, near Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City set another heat record on Tuesday and experienced its hottest day of the year as the state’s record-breaking heat wave persists. Utah’s capitol hit 104 degrees, breaking the previous heat record for that date of 103 degrees, according to information from the National Weather Service. On Monday, Salt Lake City hit 103 degrees to break a heat record for that date set nearly 50 years ago. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)