Ahead of another expected heat dome this week, more than 80 fires continued to spread in the United States, and a sandstorm caused a major pileup in Western Utah. The raw video above shows the Dixie Fire in California, as well as, the pileup.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the heat wave will bring temperatures at least 5 to 10 degrees higher than average to much of the country. The previous heat dome back in June killed more than 100 people.
Parts of the Great Plains are expected to reach triple digits Monday through Wednesday.
California and Oregon are expected to experience above-average temperatures. Those temperatures are not expected to help with the current largest wildfires in each state.
Over the weekend, the Dixie Fire combined with the Fly Fire tore through the tiny Northern California community of Indian Falls. At that point, the blaze had spread to nearly 298 square miles in Plumas and Butte counties. It has leveled at least over a dozen houses and other buildings, and was 21 percent contained as of this past weekend.
Firefighters have made more progress on Southern Oregon’s Bootleg Fire. The nation’s largest fire has charred nearly 640 square miles of land, and it is 46 percent contained.
Meanwhile in Utah, a least seven people died in a 20-vehicle pileup crash during a sandstorm Sunday afternoon according to the Utah Highway Patrol.
A news release said the pileup happened on Interstate 15 near the town of Kanosh. Kanosh is about 160 miles south of Salt Lake City.
Several people were reportedly taken to hospitals in critical condition. The highway patrol said the pileup occurred during a period of high winds, which kicked up sand or dust and reduced visibility.
