Washington July 25 (IANS) Wildfires in the US have made 2017 the country s third most devastating fire year in the past decade according to official data.
The data by the National Interagency Fire Centre issued on Monday revealed that there were a total of 38 large wildfires burning in the country including seven in California and 18 in Montana reports Xinhua news agency.
On Monday 10 new large fires were reported.
In 2017 wildfires in the country has been scorching 4 979 945 acres of land of which Lodgepole Complex Fire in remote central Montana could be the worst wildfire with 226 000 acres in size and only 5 per cent contained till Monday.
In California wildfires are spreading throughout more than 217 000 acres in total an area about 10 per cent larger than New York city.
The most concerning of the seven large wildfires raging in California is the Detwiler fire which has driven more than 4 000 residents from their homes and is threatening the historic town of Mariposa outside Yosemite National Park.
More than 3 000 firefighters has been battling with the 48 000 acre blaze for more than one week but has only contained 7 per cent.
--IANS
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