"WASHINGTON -- With wildfire season raging in western states, Congress is embroiled in a battle over how best to fight the fires.

Many Republicans want to help prevent and fight wildfires by giving the agencies that manage the federal forests more money and greater ability to thin out the forests. Most Democrats, as well as environmental groups, say the bill would lead to more logging without first considering potential damage to the forests.

At the moment Utah, California and Arizona are dealing with more than 20 fires. The Weather Channel reports that the largest, in southern Utah, has forced more than 1,500 people to evacuate. The fire has burned more than 84 square miles and is 10 percent contained."

Anshu Siripurapu reports for McClatchy June 28, 2017. [2]