The American West is battling a persistent wildfire season, with the Pacific Northwest bearing the brunt as dozens of massive blazes rage in Oregon and Washington, forcing residents from their homes and shutting down major roadways.

People who work outside have specific protections under Washington state law related to both extreme heat and wildfire smoke.

Firefighters have taken advantage of cooler weather to begin getting a handle on wildfires around Washington state's second-largest city. The fires have destroyed about 850 buildings and forced the evacuation of around 67,

Firefighters have made progress containing all three of the devastating wildfires near Spokane, Wash., but the blazes, which have collectively destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to evacuate, still pose a significant danger to the community, authorities said Wednesday morning.

Spokane wildfires have burned over 10,000 acres, destroyed 700 structures and forced 65,000 evacuations as smoke spreads.

Smoke and haze that began moving into the region late Monday will continue spreading throughout the day.

Wildfire smoke is already casting a haze over parts of Western Washington as hot temperatures dry out vegetation and increase the risk of fires closer to home.

Satellite images captured by NASA show thick plumes of wildfire smoke streaming across eastern Washington as the Spokane-area fires continue to burn, damaging hundreds of structures, prompting evacuations and pushing air quality to dangerous levels.