Rapidly spreading Canyon Fire joins California’s escalating wildfire crisis; plus a daring rescue in Antarctica

Wildfires are intensifying across California and the western United States, fueled by extreme heat, dry fuels and gusty winds pushing several into megafire territory. California is also facing 14 other active fires across the state, including the Gifford Fire raging in the Los Padres National Forest. The Gifford Fire has grown to over 104,000 acres and is 21% contained, as of Saturday morning according to CalFire. Farther east in Arizona, the Dragon Bravo Fire along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon has scorched nearly 135,000 acres since a lightning strike ignited it on July 4. It is the largest wildfire blazing in the lower 48 states and is 36% contained as of Saturday morning. Dozens of fires are active in Nevada, Utah and Arizona. In other news, three people were airlifted from Antarctica in a high-risk rescue mission this week, after medical emergencies at a remote U.S. research base required urgent evacuation through some of the harshest flying conditions on the planet. The mission, conducted by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, involved a non-stop round trip of nearly 20 hours through total darkness, subzero temperatures and highly volatile weather.

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