BOISE, Idaho — The sky and air quality make it clear that fire season is in full swing across Idaho and the rest of the West.
We're keeping tabs on several of them.
The Bench Lake Fire outside Stanley, according to the forest service, has burned nearly 1300 acres near Redfish Lake. None of it is contained.
In Eastern Oregon, the Cow Valley Fire is a big one burning in Malheur County.
The good news is that some evacuations were lifted, but the fire is only 16% contained, and it's charred more than 133,000 acres.
Another area with heavy acreage burned is the Falls Fire in the Malheur National Forest. Evacuation orders have been issued for Grant and Harney counties. The fire started last week, burning more than 64,000 acres.
The most recent was the Texas Fire in northern Idaho near Kendrick. The Latah County Sheriff's Office issued level 3 'go' evacuations due to its proximity to the town.
It is fairly small as of now, having burned about 1200 acres, but it is threatening around 60 structures in the area.
With these fires and evacuation orders, many are having to leave their homes with nowhere to go.
This early start to the wildfire season has turned up the heat for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief teams.
American Red Cross Regional Communications Director Matthew Ochsner said wildfires are picking up early in the season.
"We're definitely off to an early wildfire season," said Ochsner.
Hot temperatures and dry conditions are contributing factors that are igniting fires across Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and all around the region.
"We recently had a shelter open on the fairgrounds in Ontario, where we helped several people who were displaced by the Cow Valley Fire there," said Ochsner.
Doreen Gardner was one of those volunteers and an ember of hope for those who lost a lot in the Cow Valley Fire.
"Some of them lost everything and just being able to help them get their feet back on the ground means a lot," Gardner said. "Everyone chipped in that area to help with the horses and the cattle and a lot of range land was lost, so I feel really bad for the ranchers."
Gardner is from Boise. She has volunteered across the United States, wherever she is needed, for four years now.
"When my husband passed, I had time and retired and I do love to travel, so I was looking for volunteer opportunities where I could travel with purpose," said Gardner. "I came across the Red Cross. Plus, they meant a lot to me when they helped my sister when her house burned down in California."
With wildfires picking up, Gardner said she and other volunteers have no plans of slowing down.
The disaster relief team brought back the team from Oregon, and at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, another team was deployed for the Texas Fire near Kendrick.
"We're able to do all this work because of our volunteers," said Ochsner. "About 90 percent of our workforce are volunteers who raise their hand to come out and help people, friends, neighbors, people that don't know in need during disasters, including wildfires."
In the off-season, the American Red Cross trains volunteers and works on shelter agreements with churches, gyms, and schools. This way the group can open the doors quickly when people need to evacuate.
"We have shelter trailers full of supplies, such as costs, and comfort kits that contain things like hygiene items and things that get left behind when people have to evacuate quickly," said Ochsner.
The Red Cross anticipates a busy season, as August is typically one of the tougher months with wildfires.
No matter the call, the group said they were ready to respond.
"We stand ready to open a shelter there and help out as needed once that call comes in," Ochsner said.