California's Dixie Fire Leads To Thousands Under Evacuation - 500,000 Acres Destroyed

Thousands of Californians under evacuation orders as Dixie Fire nears 500,000 acres

Rebecca Falconer

Over 12,000 people in eight California counties are under wildfire evacuation evacuation orders — most impacted by America's biggest blaze, the Dixie Fire.

The Dixie Fire, the second-largest in California's history, was threatening Indian Valley homes near the fire-ravaged town of GreenvilleMonday night. Images taken from the scene showed the blaze that's razed more than 482,000 acrescreating its own weather overnight.

Sloan's Lake on Tuesday amid poor air quality due to smoke from California wildfires mixed with elevated ozone pollution in Denver on Tuesday. Colorado also has a large wildfire burning, the Sylvan Fire, near Eagle, west of Denver. Photo: RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty

Smoke from 108 large fires in the West has reduced air quality in the eastern U.S. this week, with places including New York City, Iowa and Minnesota experiencing hazy skies.

• Air quality in Denver has been particularly bad, with smoke from California's 11 large fires traveling some 1,000 miles. The Colorado city has this week recorded some of the worst air quality in the world.

• Firefighters across the West also now face the threat of another extreme heat wave this week.

The Dixie Fire has destroyed 873 buildings since igniting on July 14 and was 22% contained. Cal Fire doesn't expect containment until Aug. 30.