California fires send towers of smoke into the atmosphere
At least 17 large fires are burning across California, and dozens more throughout other Western states, destroying hundreds of thousands of acres, sending toxic pollutants into the air and contaminating water supplies. The air quality in certain areas — particularly near California's massive Mendocino Complex Fire in the northern part of the state — is among the worst officials have ever seen.
With temperatures at times reaching into the triple digits, unpredictable winds and desiccated brush that serve as kindling, there's no end in sight to this year's fire season.