Wildfires blaze across US west

Firefighters protect a home threatened by the Taylor Bridge Fire outside of Cle Elum, Washington, Aug 15, 2012. Firefighters battled wildfires across the US West on Tuesday, including a massive out-of-control blaze that has destroyed 60 homes and burned more than 20,000 acres (8,093 hectares) between two national forests in Washington state. [Photo/Agencies]

A helicopter drops Thermo-Gel on the Barry Point wildfire near Lakeview, Oregon, in this USDA Forest Service handout photo dated Aug 14, 2012. Wildfires roared out of control across the sun-scorched US West on Wednesday and threatened to roll into two small towns in Idaho as firefighters managed to partially dampen a monster blaze that has destroyed 60 homes in Washington state. Photo taken Aug 14, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]