Firefighters in five states struggled to contain multiple wildfires cutting a path across western United States.

In Arizona, fires have destroyed more than 4,200 acres of the beautiful Oak Creek Canyon, just northeast of Sedona.

In northern Nevada, lightning ignited new fires in an area that has already seen more than 50,000 acres burned. 

A 13,425-acre wildfire in California’s Los Padres National Forest threatened oil fields, gas lines and other resources.

Areas in southern Colorado were evacuated due to fires spanning 9,000 acres, while New Mexico was devastated by a 24,300-acre wildfire.

This widespread damage is rare for this early in the fire season and is said to have been caused by drought conditions.

Just this year, wildfires have already scorched more than 3.3 million acres across the nation. This is over four times the total for the same period in 2005.

Source: CNN.com; Reuters; ABC News