Record heat and wildfires across North America

The contiguous United States recorded its hottest month ever in July, according to federal climate data. In Canada, fast-moving wildfires in British Columbia have killed at least one person and forced thousands from their homes, prompting the federal government to put the military on standby to assist. The extreme conditions have drawn widespread attention to the human and environmental toll of prolonged heat, including the death of Jackie, a bald eagle who had become an internet symbol of wildlife recovery in California. Authorities continue to respond to active fire and heat threats across the region.