(NEWSnet/AP) — Authorities warned of the rising risk of wildfires in Western states amid a nasty heat wave that has already set temperature records and contributed to dozens of deaths.

More than 63 million people around the U.S. were under heat alerts Thursday; and while that number is high, it was a significant reduction from earlier this week.

Here’s a roundup of some weather headlines:

Impact in California

 

California's top fire official said Wednesday that already this year, the state has responded to  more than 3,500 wildfires that have scorched nearly 325 square miles — five times the average burned through July 10 in each of the past five years.

“We are not just in a fire season, but we are in a fire year,” Joe Tyler, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said at a news conference. “Our winds and the recent heat wave have exacerbated the issue, consuming thousands of acres. So we need to be extra cautious.”

There were numerous wildfires active in the state Thursday, including a stubborn 53-square-mile blaze that prompted evacuation orders for about 200 homes in the mountains of Santa Barbara County northwest of Los Angeles.

In California, officials in the Silicon Valley county of Santa Clara are investigating 19 potential heat-related deaths, including three homeless individuals, the county’s Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office said in a statement Thursday.

Heat was also blamed for a motorcyclist’s death last weekend in Death Valley National Park, and the National Park Service is investigating the third death of a Grand Canyon hiker in recent weeks.

Impact in Hawaii

 

In Hawaii, Haleakala National Park on Maui was closed as firefighters battled a blaze on the slopes of the mountain. Visitors in more than 150 vehicles that had gone up Wednesday for the famous sunset views were not able to descend until around 4 a.m. Thursday because the narrow roads were blocked by fire crews.

No homes were immediately threatened, but some residents were told to prepare for possible evacuations.

The 40 mph wind speeds were a concern for firefighters, Maui Fire Department spokesperson Chris Stankis said. “The winds are a little stronger than our typical trade winds,” he said.

The blaze is several miles from an area where 26 structures burned during deadly wind-driven wildfires on Maui last August. “But the residents who lost homes are scared,” said Yuki Lei Sugimura, who represents the area on the Maui County Council.

 

Impact in Oregon

 

Fire crews in Oregon continued Thursday to fight the Larch Creek Fire, which has grown to 16.6 square of grassy areas since Tuesday. Lower temperatures and calming winds were helping their efforts, but the local fire danger level remained extreme. One firefighter was treated for heat-related injuries.

Officials in Oregon have imposed burn bans and other restrictions to avoid sparks. Campfires, operating chainsaws and target shooting are prohibited in most areas. Central Oregon limits the use of chainsaws and grass mowing to certain hours, followed by a one-hour fire watch.

The Oregon state medical examiner reported Thursday four new potentially heat-related deaths, bringing to 14 the total number of deaths since the heat wave began. Two were from Washington County, including the second woman, and the other two were from Jackson and Linn counties.

Impact in Nevada

 

Las Vegas on Thursday simmered into a record sixth consecutive day of temperatures at 115 degrees Fahrenheit or greater – extending a newly broken record set Wednesday when Las Vegas reached 118 F, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters called it an unprecedented heat wave, even for desert standards.

In Henderson, Nevada, officers from the Office of Public Response drove around Wednesday offering cold water, bus passes and rides to cooling stations to homeless people and anyone else in need.

Impact in New Mexico

 

In southern New Mexico, heavy rain produced flash flooding on top of wildfire burn scars for the second day in a row Wednesday, forcing an estimated 1,000 residents to flee their homes in Ruidoso, city spokesperson Kerry Gladden said.

She said emergency responders had conducted more than 30 water rescues but there were no immediate reports of deaths or serious injuries.

She said most bridges over rivers and streams were closed, as was U.S. Highway 70 — one of the main arteries into town — while crews removed debris.

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