Hundreds of people have been evacuated after wildfires destroyed more than 36,000 hectares in 3 states

Wildfires destroy U.S. forests 0:40

(CNN) - Firefighters in three western states are fighting wildfires that have destroyed more than 36,000 hectares.

Evacuation orders have been issued in areas threatened by the Lake Fire and Ranch2 Fire in Los Angeles County in California; the Mosier Creek Fire in central Oregon; and the Pine Gulch, Grizzly Creek and Cameron Peak fires in Colorado.

More than 100 homes were evacuated in the steep hills near Lake Hughes in Los Angeles County when the fire exceeded 4,400 hectares. Three structures have been destroyed and more than 5,000 more are threatened, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The fire was 5% contained Thursday night, a day after it was reported, according to fire officials.

"Night firefighters continued to provide defense of the structure with ground equipment, as well as provide aerial fire suppression," according to an incident update Thursday from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. "Today, hot air temperatures of between 90 and 100 degrees, lower relative humidities and drying of fuels will bring high weather conditions for fires."

A second county fire, The Ranch2 Fire, forced more than 300 homes to be evacuated. It has consumed more than 1,200 hectares and is 0% contained.

Friday's forecast for the area is hotter and drier, CNN meteorologist Michael Guy said, which will likely last until next week. On the West Coast and parts of Texas, about 80 million are under some type of heat alert, according to CNN meteorologist Rob Shackelford.

From worsening drought to "whiplash" that brings wetter wet seasons and drier dry seasons, climate change hits California harder than almost anywhere else in the United States, said CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller. . Wildfires are one of the most obvious and destructive examples of this. Numerous studies have linked rising CO2 emissions and rising temperatures to a larger burning area in the western United States, particularly California.

More than 1,000 troops were assigned, the fire department said, and evacuation centers were set up at a high school and sports complex.

A plume of smoke from the Lake Fire is seen Wednesday from Los Angeles, nearly 60 miles away.

Heat builds up in other wildfire areas

In neighboring Oregon, the Mosier Creek fire also prompted evacuations. Several large tanker trucks were en route to help control the fire, which by Thursday had consumed about 323 hectares, according to the Oregon Central District of the Oregon Department of Forestry.

The heat builds there and will last until early next week, Guy said, along with dry conditions.

The Mosier Creek fire forced at least 564 homes to be evacuated and four structures have burned, according to the Oregon Forestry Department. Authorities believe the fire was caused by humans.

In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis visited the incident command sites Thursday for the Pine Gulch and Grizzly Creek fires.

The Pine Gulch fire had consumed nearly 28,000 hectares by Thursday night, with only 7% containment, firefighters reported.

Less than 100 miles away, the Grizzly Creek Fire had destroyed more than 2,500 acres by Thursday night, according to the US Forest Service. The fire, which started Monday, crossed the Colorado River and the Interstate 70 on Wednesday, prompting the interstate to close east of Glenwood Springs.

"This fire is in a really tough place and it's really tough to fight," White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams said Wednesday during a community briefing.

Fire crews are working Tuesday to combat the Grizzly Creek Fire as it shoots up the ridge into No Name Canyon.

Fire crews work Tuesday to fight the Grizzly Creek fire as it shoots up the ridge into No Name Canyon

Nearly 900 people are working to contain the two fires. "We're going to be here for a while," Fitzwilliams said.

Approximately 400 kilometers east in Larimer County, the Cameron Peak Fire has consumed more than 600 hectares.

Colorado will also get hotter, Guy said, with high temperatures for the next seven days. The possibility of daily rain in the region might bring some relief, but with it comes the risk of new lightning fires.

CNN's Andy Rose, Konstantin Toropin and Stella Chan contributed to this report.

Forest fires