Wildfires in California, Utah prompt evacuations after torching homes amid heat wave

Wildfires ignited over the weekend engulfed hundreds of acres of land in California and Utah, prompting evacuation orders as they torched homes, threatened nearby communities and, in Salt Lake City, burned near the state capitol.

The fires roared across the West amid an unrelenting stretch of intense heat that's expected to continue through the week. The National Weather Service has issued heat warnings and advisories from southern California to Washington, Idaho and Wyoming as triple digit temperatures are expected across multiple states.

In Southern California, the so-called Hawarden Fire, just four miles south of downtown Riverside, began on Sunday afternoon and grew over 520 acres, forcing residents to leave their homes as the fire rapidly expanded. Three homes were destroyed in a roaring blaze that was captured on video by local news crews.

Riverside Deputy Fire Chief Steve McKinster said at a news conference Monday that four other structures were damaged and that 1,500 homes are in the surrounding area. Damage assessments were set to begin Monday morning, he said. One firefighter has sustained a minor injury, McKinster said.

Another wildfire in Riverside County, the Eagle Fire, broke out on Sunday and spread across 1,600 acres, triggering evacuation orders that were eventually downgraded as firefighters were able to contain at least 50% of the blaze and stop its "forward progress," according to Cal Fire. The blaze began in the city of Corona, about 18 miles southwest of Riverside. Several locations remained under evacuation warnings through Monday morning.

In Humboldt County, west of Redding, several areas were under evacuation orders as the Hill Fire burned over 5,580 acres since last Tuesday. The blaze, which has been contained by 7%, caused at least five injuries, according to Cal Fire. In Lake and Colusa counties, the Ridge Fire prompted officials to evacuate some residents as the flames spread across 2,500 acres since Saturday, according to Cal Fire.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom at the news conference earlier this month said while the number of fires has been on track with previous year averages, the state is experiencing "a disproportionally high number of acres burned." Newsom cited the "unprecedented heat" as a central factor in the sharp increase.

Utah fire threatens homes near state capitol

The wildfires were not only contained to California. Over the weekend, a blaze broke out in Salt Lake City just north of the state capitol, where it threatened homes and sparked evacuation orders.

The so-called Sandhurst Fire was first reported Saturday afternoon as it quickly spread over 200 acres, leading local emergency responders to knock on doors and evacuate some residents in a hilly area north of the capitol complex.

As of Sunday, the blaze was 10% contained, according to the Utah Wildfire Dashboard. There were no reports of injuries or damaged buildings.

The fire was listed as "human caused" though officials have not provide any details. The Salt Lake City Police Department announced Sunday on X that all evacuation orders were lifted.

Nearly 600 wildfires have scorched more than 40,000 acres of land across Utah this year, according to Utah Fire Info. Approximately 425 of the wildfires were labeled human caused.