Members phkrause Posted January 23 Author Members Posted January 23 California wildfires At least 28 people have died in the wildfires blazing across Southern California, officials said Tuesday. The Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, which has burned over 23,000 acres, is 63% contained, and the Eaton Fire is 89% contained at over 14,000 acres. More than 10 million people in the region are under red flag warnings today amid gusty winds and extremely dry air. Tens of thousands of people have also been displaced for weeks and now find their housing situation beyond their control. Crews say it may even take months to clean up toxic contamination from chemicals released as flames consumed electronics, metals, plastics and paints. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 23 Author Members Posted January 23 Footing the bill The wildfires in Southern California, along with the hurricanes in the Southeast late last year, could end up raising homeowners’ insurance rates soon — even for people who don’t live anywhere near those natural disasters. Here’s why. ➕ Mandatory evacuations were ordered in northern LA County after a new outbreak. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 24 Author Members Posted January 24 🔥 New L.A. fire Flames from the Hughes Fire race up a hill in Castaic, a northwestern neighborhood of LA yesterday. Photo: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images Another wildfire erupted north of LA yesterday, quickly exploding in size across two counties and forcing thousands of people to evacuate. The Hughes Fire ignited north of Santa Clarita yesterday morning, and grew across over 5,000 acres in LA and Ventura Counties in just over two hours. 🧯 The Palisades and Eaton fires, which devastated vast swaths of the metro area earlier this month, are still burning. Each is just under 70% contained. 📺 In his first TV interview since the inauguration, President Trump threatened on Fox News last night to withhold federal disaster aid for LA unless California leaders change the state's approach to water management. "I don't think we should give California anything until they let water flow down into their system," Trump told Sean Hannity at the White House. Trump repeated false claims that the state's fish conservation efforts in the northern part of the state are responsible for fire hydrants running dry in urban areas. Watch the video ... Keep reading. 🎥 Jeffrey Katzenberg, the top entertainment industry executive and entrepreneur, and his wife, Marilyn, are donating $5 million to the Motion Picture and Television Fund to provide financial assistance for film and TV workers who have been hurt by the wildfires. —Deadline California wildfires A new fast-moving wildfire in Southern California has prompted thousands of evacuations. The Hughes fire in Castaic — impacting both Los Angeles and Ventura counties — had burned more than 10,000 acres and is 14% contained as of early today, according to Cal Fire. No structures have been reported damaged or destroyed but the fire threat remains critical in the region. The unincorporated community of Castaic is about 15 miles northwest of the city of Santa Clarita and borders the Angeles National Forest. Approximately 31,000 residents in the area are under evacuation orders, while 23,000 are under evacuation warnings. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 24 Author Members Posted January 24 50,000 people under new fire evacuation warnings north of Los Angeles Firefighters fought to maintain the upper hand on a huge, rapidly moving wildfire that swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles near Castaic Lake. An additional new fire was reported at the Sepulveda Pass near the I-405 Freeway. Read more. What to know: The Hughes Fire broke out late Wednesday morning and in less than a day had charred nearly 16 square miles of trees and brush near Castaic Lake, a popular recreation area 40 miles from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that are burning for a third week. More than 50,000 people are under evacuation orders or warnings. An evacuation warning was issued for Sherman Oaks after a brush fire broke out on the Sepulveda Pass near the I-405 Freeway. The blaze was first reported just after 11 p.m. Wednesday, but the Los Angeles Fire Department announced early Thursday that forward progress had been stopped at about 40 acres and the evacuation warning was lifted. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump says he may withhold federal aid for Los Angeles if California doesn’t change water policies Cracks emerge in House GOP after speaker’s threat to saddle California wildfire aid with conditions The ash left behind by the Los Angeles wildfires might be toxic, experts warn Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 24 Author Members Posted January 24 Thousands under evacuation orders as fresh blazes erupt in California Fresh California wildfires ignited in Southern California on Thursday during "critical" fire weather, leaving tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders. https://www.axios.com/2025/01/23/hughes-fire-california-wildfires-la-county? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 24 Author Members Posted January 24 🔥 Flooding, mudslides may follow fires A Cal Fire captain assesses the Hughes Fire yesterday. Photo: Jon Putman/Anadolu via Getty Images Multiple new wildfires ignited around Southern California yesterday. The Hughes Fire, the one that started Wednesday, spread to more than 10,000 acres. And the Palisades Fire — the most destructive in California's history — is still burning. The Sepulveda Fire triggered evacuation warnings near LA's Getty Center and the UCLA campus, but was quickly contained. The Laguna Fire ignited in Ventura County later yesterday morning and was at 0% containment over 50 acres. San Diego County has seen at least seven fires this week, some prompting since-lifted evacuation orders. ⚠️ What's next: Rain is forecast for the weekend. LA County on X urged residents to "prepare for potential flooding, mudslides & debris run-off" over the weekend due to "an increased chance of mud & debris flow in recent burn areas, residents are urged to prepare for potential flooding, mudslides & debris run-off." Get the latest. California fires Much of Southern California is expected to get doused with desperately needed rainfall this weekend as firefighters try to contain the wildfires smoldering in Los Angeles County. A half-inch to 3/4 of an inch of rain is expected to fall from Saturday to Sunday on the main burn scars of the Palisades and Eaton fires, the National Weather Service said — but this could unleash new hazards. Meteorologists say the rain will fall quickly over charred land that can't absorb water — increasing the threat of debris flow, landslides and mudslides. Officials have deployed sandbags and other systems across LA to contain the burnt rubble and toxic chemicals from impacting its stormwater system and beaches, the mayor's office said. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 27 Author Members Posted January 27 Southern California rain helps firefighters but creates risk of flooding and toxic ash runoff LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rain fell on parts of Southern California on Sunday and the scattered showers were expected to continue overnight, boosting the risk of toxic ash runoff in areas scorched by Los Angeles-area wildfires. https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-los-angeles-palisades-eaton-rain-93b6a9d46d021ba6200030a55ce1d6c8? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 28 Author Members Posted January 28 California wildfires The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has updated the death toll from this month's destructive Southern California wildfires to 29. As of late Monday, there have been 17 deaths related to the Eaton fire and 12 deaths related to the Palisades fire. This comes as a new lawsuit alleges the Eaton fire in Altadena, California, was started by an electrical spark from a utility transmission tower. Video obtained by the law firm representing the fire victim shows what they say is the start of the blaze. The official cause of both fires in Los Angeles County remains under investigation. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 29 Author Members Posted January 29 California considers letting victims of natural disasters sue oil companies for damages SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Oil and gas companies would be liable for damages caused by climate change -related disasters in California under legislation introduced Monday by two Democratic lawmakers. https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-big-oil-climate-lawsuit-3f1141c4fa128ba8e2fe8fb2b3c980f3? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 30 Author Members Posted January 30 Los Angeles reservoirs filled before blazes, except for one needing repairs | Fact check The claim: Los Angeles officials ‘refused to fill’ water reservoirs before fires “Reports are saying the city of Los Angeles refused to fill the water reservoirs, so there’s no water in the fire hydrants to fight the fires,” the post reads. Our rating: False https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2025/01/29/los-angeles-reservoirs-wildfires-fact-check/77974840007/? ps:I wonder who got that rumor started????? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 30 Author Members Posted January 30 Trump Claimed US Military 'Turned on the Water' in Fire-Scorched California. Here's What We Know On Jan. 27, 2025, a post (archived) by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social network led to claims online that the U.S. military had "turned on the water" in wildfire-scorched California. https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/01/28/trump-military-turn-on-water-in-california/? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 31 Author Members Posted January 31 FireAid benefit concerts Two benefit concerts collectively referred to as FireAid took place in Los Angeles on Thursday to support relief efforts in the wake of this month's deadly wildfires. The Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire have claimed 29 lives and caused billions of dollars in damage. According to the FireAid website, every donation made during the concerts' livestream was matched dollar for dollar. Some of the artists who performed included Green Day, Billie Eilish, No Doubt, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stevie Nicks. Nicks also shared a story during her set about how her Pacific Palisades home was saved because of the Santa Rosa firefighters who she said "never gave up." She dedicated her hit song "Landslide" to those first responders. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 5 Author Members Posted February 5 The Grammys and FireAid concerts raised $125 million for fire relief Last week’s Grammys and the massive FireAid benefit concerts raised close to $125 million for relief efforts in the wake of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-02-04/grammys-2025-fireaid-recording-academy-fundraising-125-million? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 6 Author Members Posted February 6 LA neighbors have vastly different post-wildfire rebuilding options due to insurance crisis Before a wildfire ravaged their street in northwest Altadena, Louise Hamlin and Chris Wilson lived next door to each other in nearly identical houses. https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-home-insurance-fair-plan-b545beb6c8d287eba852f9c1b1d1e504? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 7 Author Members Posted February 7 Utility says its equipment may have started a small blaze that erupted during January’s LA firestorm LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California utility said Thursday that its equipment may have sparked a small wildfire in Los Angeles that broke out the same day as two massive blazes in the area that killed at least 29 people and destroyed thousands of homes. https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-socal-edison-hurst-fire-cause-1204b0bd207a01aa41dc617d6edc0ff2? California wildfires California utility company Southern California Edison said its equipment "may be associated with" the ignition of the Hurst Fire, which burned alongside the Eaton and Palisades fires during last month's firestorms in Los Angeles. The admission came amid a required filing with the state's utility regulators. The Hurst fire burned for eight days before being fully contained, but it did not destroy any structures or lead to any deaths. In a second filing, the utility also addressed videos of the deadly Eaton Fire's early stages, suggesting a possible link to SoCal's equipment. The company said it is still working to determine potential causes of the ignition, including if its equipment could be related to the cause of the fire that destroyed over 9,000 structures and killed 17 people in Altadena. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 11 Author Members Posted February 11 Facing backlash over $500K salary, LA’s wildfire recovery czar agrees to work for free LOS ANGELES (AP) — Steve Soboroff, a longtime fixture in Los Angeles civic life who is now serving as chief recovery officer for the city’s wildfire comeback, won’t take a salary after facing backlash over plans to pay him $500,000. He would have been paid through charitable donations, not with taxpayer money. https://apnews.com/article/steve-soboroff-california-wildfires-los-angeles-chief-9602939a8c38138a45420481359542e2? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 12 Author Members Posted February 12 Hawaii court rules against insurance companies in Maui wildfire, allowing $4B settlement to proceed HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s Supreme Court ruled Monday that insurance companies can’t bring their own legal actions against those blamed for Maui’s catastrophic 2023 wildfire, allowing a $4 billion settlement that was on that the verge of collapse to proceed. https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfire-insurance-maui-415df012fbd502d0506ed92e1b77c5d9? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 23 Author Members Posted February 23 LA mayor dismisses fire chief over response to most destructive wildfire in city history last month LOS ANGELES (AP) — Six weeks after the start of the most destructive wildfire in city history, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ousted the fire chief Friday amid a public rift over preparations for a potential blaze and finger-pointing between the chief and City Hall over responsibility for the devastation. https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-fire-chief-146e4421e4bac52dadca6164040eff39? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 25 Author Members Posted February 25 Burned out In Los Angeles, homes under $1 million are hard to come by. The devastating wildfires don’t seem to have deterred people who are buying up charred empty lots where homes once stood. The risk of future fires looms large. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted March 3 Author Members Posted March 3 Hundreds of blazes break out along Atlantic Coast Hundreds of blazes broke out across the Atlantic Coast, just one month after the most destructive wildfires in U.S. history ravaged California . https://local.newsbreak.com/south-carolina-state/3836966903026-hundreds-of-blazes-break-out-along-atlantic-coast? Wildfires More than 175 wildfires are burning across the Carolinas, fueled by dry and windy conditions. The Carolina Forest Fire, about five miles north of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is estimated to be 1,600 acres and 30% contained, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said Sunday. A passenger aboard a flight into Myrtle Beach on Saturday night captured stunning video of smoke and fire billowing up into the sky from the plane window. Dozens of other wildfires in the region flared up over the weekend — many of which have since been contained. Firefighters should get a break today and Tuesday as forecasts call for more humidity and lighter winds. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted March 9 Author Members Posted March 9 Not so ‘despicable,’ Steve The prom must go on for high school seniors across Altadena, California, whose families lost their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires. Alice’s Kids, a charity that covers students’ fees to attend field trips, play instruments and pursue extracurriculars, surprised more than 800 students this week when it announced it would be covering the cost of their prom tickets. The charity recruited none other than Steve Carell to deliver the exciting news. “Have fun, enjoy the prom and remember — this is Steve Carell,” the actor humorously droned like a philanthropic robot, in a video played for high schoolers across Altadena. The students reacted in pure shock — at one school, seniors gasped aloud and then burst into applause and cheers after Carell shared the “sweet deal.” (All of this makes me wonder, do high schoolers today recognize Carell from "Despicable Me" or "The Office"? Do they recognize him at all? At least their parents can appreciate an act of charity from Michael Scott.) Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted March 10 Author Members Posted March 10 📷 Brush fires encroach on Hamptons Smoke from fires on Long Island is seen yesterday from Southampton, N.Y. Image from video: Andrew Tallon via AP Fast-moving brush fires fanned by high winds burned through a large swath of Long Island yesterday, spewing thick gray smoke and prompting the evacuation of a military base and the closure of part of the Sunrise Highway. Three of four fires were contained yesterday evening. The fourth, in the Westhampton area, has been partially contained. (AP) New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency in Suffolk County, the island's easternmost county, which encompasses the Hamptons. Strong winds are expected to persist today, keeping Long Island's fire danger high, the N.Y. Times reports. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted March 18 Author Members Posted March 18 California regulator mulls State Farm’s request for 22% premium hike for homeowners after LA fires SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s top insurance regulator on Friday said he would approve an emergency request by State Farm to raise premiums 22% on home insurance for about a million customers if the insurance giant could justify the hike at a public hearing. https://apnews.com/article/california-insurance-rate-increase-state-farm-wildfire-678085d49fff2edc1a53d61250cff7c6? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted March 28 Author Members Posted March 28 🔥 America has a wildfire problem. Assume urban blazes are just a California thing? Think again. More than 1,100 communities across the country face urban wildfire risks comparable to Los Angeles, according to new research. Warming temperatures, extreme weather, and suburban sprawl are putting more communities at risk of urban conflagration. These blazes start as wildfires, but spread through densely populated neighborhoods where homes act as tinder. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted April 3 Author Members Posted April 3 Teens who allegedly failed to put out cigarettes accused of causing massive wildfire Three teenagers are accused of causing a massive fire that ignited in a South Carolina state park after failing to extinguish cigarettes while on a hiking trail, officials said. https://local.newsbreak.com/pickens-county-sc/3945235921812-teens-who-allegedly-failed-to-put-out-cigarettes-accused-of-causing-massive-wildfire? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.