Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


35 Killed in US Wildfires

VOA News

   Wildfires burning across the U.S. region known as the Pacific
   Northwest, includingnorthernCalifornia, Oregon, and
   Washington,haveconsumed thousands of homes, businesses and towns.More
   than a million hectares of land havebeen destroyed.The fires have
   killed at least 35 people across the region.

   The smoke and flames of the blazes have combined to envelope thecities
   of San Francisco, Seattle, and Portlandwithsome of theworst air
   qualityin the world.

   An Associated Press description of the conditions said,"The smoke
   filled the air with an acrid metallic smell like pennies."

   Themassive clouds of smoke enveloping the regionhaveendangeredthe
   health ofmillions of residents.

.