Uncontrolled wildfires in four Western states continued to burn as federal lawmakers today saw some of their first direct evidence: an orange, hazy sunrise in the nation's capital as the smoke reached the East Coast. The National Interagency Fire Center said evacuation orders remain in place around 39 large wildfires in California, Oregon, Washington state and Colorado. Fires in 10 states have burned more than 4.6 million acres and helped push the national wildfire total above the average seen during the past decade, the agency said. Weather forecasters drew hope from increasing humidity, and rain in some areas, which they said could aid firefighters trying to extinguish the flames. But winds around 20 mph continue to make for a challenging environment, they said.
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