Wildfires continue to burn across the western US and Canada, destroying a smattering of homes, forcing thousands to flee and temporarily trapping children and counselors at a California campground.
In Canada firefighters were contending with more than 200 fires burning in British Columbia that had destroyed dozens of buildings, including several homes and two airport hangars.
The three biggest fires, which ranged in size from 14 to 20 square kilometres had forced thousands of people to flee.
"We are just, in many ways, at the beginning of the worst part of the fire season and we watch the weather, we watch the wind, and we pray for rain," outgoing Premier Christy Clark told reporters in Kamloops.
"We probably haven't seen this sort of activity that involves so many residences and people in the history of the province of BC," he said.
In Northern California, a wildfire swept through grassy foothills and destroyed 10 structures, including homes.
Burned-out pick-up trucks were left in ashes, surrounded by charred, leafless trees. The metal frame of a mobile home and a vintage stove were left standing in scorched debris at one site.
One blaze north of Sacramento grew rapidly to more than 18 square kilometres and was nearly 20 per cent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
At least 750 homes remained threatened and hundreds more were evacuated.
"We're hopeful about holding the lines," fire spokeswoman Mary Ann Aldrich said Sunday. "There's been progress."
Southern California crews hope slightly cooler temperatures and diminishing winds will help in the battle against major wildfires that have destroyed structures, closed a highway and forced evacuations.
One of two fires raging in Santa Barbara County grew to 31 square kilometres, traversing a mountain range and heading south toward coastal Goleta.
"The plan is to hit it with air tankers to keep it from moving to the south and to the east," said county fire Captain Dave Zaniboni.
Firefighters have been able to build containment lines around about half the wildfire that forced the evacuation of hundreds of people near Breckenridge, Colorado.
The fire has not spread since it broke out Wednesday.
