Yesterday, a furious California wildfire spread, consuming several thousand acres and forcing evacuations as tens of millions of Americans sweltered in sweltering temperatures.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) stated in a report that more than 2,000 firefighters and 17 helicopters had been sent to combat the Oak Fire, which broke out Friday near Yosemite National Park.

However, two days after it erupted, the fire had already devoured more than 14,200 acres (5,750 hectares). It is still 100 percent uncontained, according to the report, which also notes that heat and low humidity may "impede" efforts yesterday.

According to CAL FIRE's assessment, "extreme drought conditions have caused fuel moisture levels to reach critical levels."

Officials have described the blaze as "explosive," It has left behind ashes, gutted automobiles, and the twisted remnants of properties, as emergency personnel worked to evacuate residents and protect structures in its path.

It has already destroyed ten properties and damaged five more, and it poses a threat to thousands more.

More than 6,000 people were evacuated, according to CAL FIRE officer Hector Vasquez.

"It was frightening as we left since we were covered in ash, but we had a vivid image of the smoke blowing. Lynda Reynolds-Brown, one of the evacuees, told local TV station KCRA that it appeared as if the tornado was just above her home and swiftly approaching.

"As we began gathering our belongings, I returned to the top of the hill and exclaimed, 'Oh my God!' It was approaching quickly, her husband Aubrey Brown reported to the station.

Saturday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a state of emergency in Mariposa County, citing "extremely dangerous conditions for the safety of persons and property." In recent years, California and other western regions of the United States have been devastated by massive, fast-moving wildfires, which have been fueled by years of drought and a warming climate.

Gore criticizes "inaction."

Over the weekend, 85 million Americans in more than a dozen states were under a heat advisory, indicating that global warming was occurring elsewhere in the country.

The dilemma spurred Al Gore, a dedicated climate activist, and former vice president, to deliver dire warnings about congressional inaction yesterday.

Gore was direct when asked if he thought US President Joe Biden should declare a climate emergency, offering him greater policy-making authority.

"Mother Nature has already declared it a global emergency," he said on "This Week" on ABC News. And "it's going to get much, much worse, very quickly," he added on NBC.

However, he also indicated that recent disasters, such as Europe's deadly heat waves, should serve as a wake-up call for US Congress members who have thus far failed to support initiatives to tackle climate change.

"I believe that these extreme events, which are steadily getting worse and more severe, are beginning to change minds," he stated.

The central and northeastern United States has borne the brunt of the high heat, which is expected to lessen today.

The National Weather Service stated yesterday afternoon, "The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast will continue to experience searing heat tonight before the upper trough over Canada dips into the region to moderate temperatures a bit tomorrow."

Temperatures of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) are predicted for sections of eastern Kansas and Oklahoma, southern Missouri, and northern Arkansas in the following days.

Even the typically cool Pacific Northwest will not escape the widespread heat, with high temperatures "predicted to steadily rise over the next few days, leading to the possibility of record-breaking heat," according to the weather service.

Cities have been compelled to build cooling stations and expand their outreach to vulnerable populations, such as the homeless and those without air conditioning.

In recent months, according to scientists, various regions of the world, such as Western Europe in July and India in March and April, have seen significant heat waves and unambiguous evidence of a warming climate.