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.

The smoke and heat threat is mostly behind us for Western Washington, but for Central and Eastern Washington, surging dry winds will fan ongoing wildfires.

Hot, dry and windy conditions have fueled multiple wildfires across the Pacific Northwest. Here's where they're burning.

The barrier of the Cascade mountains may give the illusion that Western Washington is excluded from wildfires. Experts say otherwise.

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown called the wildfires burning through the area the "worst natural disaster our region has faced."

Police say a man charged with starting one of the wildfires in Spokane that have destroyed hundreds of buildings planned the crime for weeks and researched when the weather would be best for igniting it.

Extreme heat and severe storms are expected across much of the United States this week, raising wildfire and flooding concerns.

Hundreds of firefighters have been working for days to contain wildfires near Spokane, Washington. The man accused of starting one of those fires is set to be arraigned in court today. NBC News national correspondent Morgan Chesky shares the stories of residents who have lost everything in the fires and explains why they have been so hard to put out.