Wildfires in the USA

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California city cancels July Fourth fireworks as firefighters battle flames amid hot weather

OROVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Officials in a Northern California community cancelled an annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration as an estimated 26,000 residents remained displaced by a growing wildfire, while hundreds of firefighters toiled under extreme heat to keep flames from reaching more homes.

https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-8091a7f73b1765b440f9923d76f8e664?

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Dozens of wildfires in Pacific Northwest and Canada hit U.S. air quality

Massive wildfires burning across the unusually hot and dry western U.S. and Canada have led thousands to evacuate, with reports of at least one fire in California and another in Oregon creating their own weather.

https://www.axios.com/2024/07/24/wildfires-us-west-canada-heat-extreme-weather?

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Wildfire season

 

A lightning-sparked wildfire raging in eastern Oregon has scorched nearly 270,000 acres, making it the largest active wildfire in the US. The Durkee Fire, which has already burned an area larger than the entire city of Indianapolis, started over a week ago near the Oregon-Idaho state line and was still 0% contained as of early today. The extreme heat beating down on the West and other parts of the US this summer, along with high winds, could be a recipe for danger leading into the wildfire season, firefighters have warned. Meanwhile, wildfires have forced a town and a major national park in Canada's Alberta province to be evacuated. Several buildings have been burned by one of two raging wildfires menacing the town of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies' largest national park, authorities said today. 

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California’s largest wildfire explodes in size as fires rage across US West

California’s largest active fire exploded in size on Friday evening, growing rapidly amid bone-dry fuel and threatening thousands of homes as firefighters scrambled to meet the danger.

https://apnews.com/article/california-oregon-wildfires-burning-car-lightning-90e078225df39c0ed23e8edb9d26b8c1?

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Fires in the West are becoming ever bigger, consuming. Why and what can be done?

Decades of snuffing out fires at the first sign of smoke combined with climate change have laid the groundwork for a massive wildfire in northern California and scores of smaller ones across the western U.S. and Canada, experts say.

https://apnews.com/article/us-wildfires-california-oregon-359e9bfba415dea51ec92d772068a269?

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Wildfires

 

The Park Fire, the seventh-largest wildfire in California history, has scorched more than 360,000 acres — an area larger than the city of Phoenix. It has destroyed over 100 structures and threatens thousands more, according to CalFire. The blaze was 12% contained as of early today but evacuation warnings or orders remained in Butte, Tehama, Plumas and Shasta counties. The weather forecast for the Northwest calls for lighter winds than the area has seen in recent days, giving firefighters some optimism about slowing the progress of the blaze. In Oregon, the Durkee Fire is the largest wildfire burning in the state, at more than 288,000 acres. It has injured three people and destroyed four residences. Local authorities say the fire is 49% contained.

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Dozens of wildfires scorch U.S. West as another heat wave builds

Dozens of massive wildfires burning across the western U.S. have forced thousands to evacuate, and forecasters warn another potentially record-breaking heat wave will trigger further fire risks.

https://www.axios.com/2024/07/31/wildfires-california-us-west-heat-wave?

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Wildfires

 

While California battles the fifth-largest wildfire in state history, a new inferno in Colorado has forced the evacuation of about 600 homes near Denver. The Stone Canyon Fire has scorched more than 1,500 acres and killed at least one person, Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson said Wednesday. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has also deployed the state National Guard to assist in the fire response as the Quarry Fire spread rapidly southwest of Denver overnight. In northern California, the Park Fire has destroyed hundreds of structures and is 18% contained. It has swallowed more than 391,000 acres and is estimated to be bigger than the size of Los Angeles.

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As Millions of Acres Burn, Firefighters Say the U.S. Forest Service Has Left Them With Critical Shortages

On July 18, federal wildfire managers placed the nation under a designation known as Preparedness Level 5 — bureaucratic code for all hands on deck or, as one veteran wildland firefighter called it, “fire DEFCON.” In layman’s terms, Preparedness Level 5 means that the country’s wildland firefighting resources are spread thin, more blazes are imminent, and supervisors of local crews are reluctant to allow them to travel far from home to help elsewhere. This marks only the fourth time in the past two decades that the country has reached such a state so early in the calendar year. So far, more than 5 million acres have burned nationwide, tripling last year’s total, and there are still months to go in fire season.

https://www.propublica.org/article/wildfires-forest-service-firefighters-preparedness-level-five?

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Wildfires

 

Raging wildfires in California and Nevada have led to mandatory evacuations of thousands of homes as forecasters warn of record heat in the West for the next few days. In California, the Line Fire has consumed more than 20,000 acres after igniting at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains on Thursday. The blaze has more than quadrupled in size since Saturday morning and more than 1,800 fire personnel are battling the wildfire, which was zero percent contained as of Sunday evening, according to Cal Fire. And in Nevada, the Davis Fire — a dangerous, wind-driven blaze south of Reno — has burned about 6,500 acres and remains zero percent contained as of late Sunday.

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Thousands evacuate as wildfires rage outside Los Angeles and Reno, Nevada

HIGHLAND, Calif. (AP) — Days of triple-digit temperatures fed a wildfire in the foothills of a national forest east of Los Angeles Monday, pushing some 6,000 people to flee the area as another blaze in Nevada displaced more than 20,000.

https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-california-nevada-heatwave-f09e0f40f3858af24451a64343b229e7?

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Wildfires

 

More than 60 active large wildfires have burned more than 2 million acres across the western United States, officials say, resulting in emergency declarations across the region and driving thousands from their homes. Those who do not have to evacuate are dealing with power outages, closed schools and canceled plans due to fires and excessive heat. Blazes in California, Idaho and Nevada have proven especially alarming as flames and record heat have led to evacuations and the destruction of several homes and businesses.

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Wildfires burn out of control in Southern California and more evacuations ordered

TRABUCO CANYON, Calif. (AP) — Apocalyptic-looking plumes of smoke filled skies east of Los Angeles on Tuesday as firefighters battled three major wildfires that erupted amid a blistering heat wave and threatened tens of thousands of homes and other structures.

https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-california-nevada-heat-wave-0a0eb753eb8cf3f4224e6838cc47e5e5?

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California's fiery future

A Cal Fire bulldozer retreats as the Airport Fire overtakes Ortega highway on Wednesday. Photo: Jon Putman/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The wildfires roaring through Southern California this week may be a preview of the West's future, Axios extreme-weather expert Andrew Freedman writes. Climate change, population growth and land management practices are combining to create dangerous and damaging blazes. 🚒 Where it stands: The three large fires burning right now near L.A. and Orange County have scorched roughly 100,000 acres of land. The largest of the three is only 3% contained, according to Cal Fire. More than 30,000 California residents have had to evacuate, and 100,000 more are under evacuation warnings. Statewide, wildfires have burned through almost 1 million acres so far this year. Damage caused by the Airport Fire is seen today in Orange County, Calif. Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images ⚠️ Extreme fire weather conditions like those California has experienced this year are becoming more common and more severe because of climate change, and the resulting fires are sometimes harder to fight. The past few days, for example, have featured wildfires that have run up and over mountains, backed down hills and into communities, and manufactured their own weather, complete with towering clouds of smoke and ash that produced thousands of lightning strikes. "The public largely believes we can extinguish all the fires all the time, and this is not true," said Mike Flannigan, a wildfire expert at Thompson Rivers University. Go deeper.

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132 structures destroyed in Southern California wildfire as fierce winds expected to subside

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California wildfire has destroyed 132 structures, mostly homes, in less than two days, fire officials said Thursday as raging winds were forecast to ease.

https://apnews.com/article/california-mountain-fire-winds-los-angeles-e89f8cad94f132c9700180025e5b05fe?

Wildfires

Fire conditions are expected to improve across Southern California today after powerful Santa Ana winds brought strong gusts and dangerous fire weather to the region. Those conditions fueled the Mountain Fire in Ventura County, which has burned over 20,000 acres since Wednesday. Officials said more than 130 structures have been destroyed and over 80 are damaged. The fire was driven by potent winds and weather conditions so extreme forecasters issued a rare "particularly dangerous situation" red flag warning for the potential of "life-threatening" fire behavior. There are a total of 10 confirmed injuries, which are mostly related to smoke inhalation and are non-life threatening, Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said.

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🌡️ Drought engulfs America

Map: U.S. Drought Monitor An abnormally dry fall is setting up dangerous conditions for wildfires to spread across the country. Why it matters: Last month was America's second warmest and second driest October on record, according to NOAA. 🔢 By the numbers: Parts of every state except Alaska experienced at least moderate drought during the first week of November, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. 88% of the contiguous U.S. had at least abnormally dry conditions as of Thursday — the highest number in Drought Monitor's 25-year history. Smoke billows from a fire in Brooklyn's Prospect Park on Friday night. Photo: Michelle Paggi via Reuters On the East Coast, firefighters battled wildfires from the Philly suburbs to the Boston area. On the West Coast, firefighters in Southern California's Ventura County have gained ground on a wildfire that had spread to 32 square miles. Go deeper.

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Fire crews on both US coasts battle wildfires Fire crews battled wildfires across the Northeast U.S. on Monday, including a blaze in New York and New Jersey that killed a parks employee over the weekend and postponed Veterans Day plans. Read more.

Recent developments: A quarter-inch of rain fell overnight from Sunday into Monday in a forest area straddling the border between the two states, giving a slight respite to firefighters. The fire is one of several burning on the East Coast amid a lack of rainfall since September.   Firefighters continued making progress against a wildfire northwest of Los Angeles in Ventura County that broke out Wednesday and quickly exploded in size. The Mountain Fire in Ventura County prompted thousands of residents to flee their homes and was 36% contained as of Monday. The Mountain Fire has destroyed more than 170 structures, most of them homes, officials said. The cause is under investigation.   In neighboring Nevada, authorities ordered the evacuation of hundreds of homes southwest of Reno and closed the main highway to Lake Tahoe after a wind-whipped wildfire erupted Monday and spread quickly through mountainside vegetation.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Fire officials describe harrowing conditions as Southern California wildfire exploded   Azerbaijan accused of ramping up repression of critics ahead of hosting UN climate summit   US top climate negotiator: ‘We won’t revert back’ as Trump prepares to take over

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New Jersey will issue a drought warning after driest October ever and as wildfires rage

BRICK, N.J. (AP) — With wildfires burning after its driest September and October ever, New Jersey will issue a drought warning, a step that could eventually lead to mandatory water restrictions if significant rain doesn’t fall soon.

https://apnews.com/article/new-jersey-drought-wildfires-drinking-water-77c8c43c65ea884608197e99573acd1b?

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Celebrities and coastal residents flee from wind-driven wildfire in Malibu

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — Evacuation orders and warnings have gone out to 20,000 Southern California residents Tuesday as firefighters battled a wind-driven wildfire in Malibu that burned near celebrities’ seaside mansions, horse farms and Pepperdine University, the sheriff’s department said.

https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-malibu-evacuation-pepperdine-university-ef9f6ea11815be64feaf2e5e5eb7588c?

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🔥 Malibu fire tops 4,000 acres

Firefighters monitor a burning hillside around Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. on Tuesday, Photo: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images The fast-moving wildfire, which has forced 20,000 to evacuate in and around Malibu, Calif., is still growing, Axios' Andrew Freedman reports. Flames reached Pacific Coast Highway, shutting down parts of the road. Malibu schools remain closed today. This satellite image of a fire line near Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., uses color infrared multispectral imagery to show burned vegetation (shades of gray) and non-burned areas (red/pink). Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies 🚒 By the numbers: The Franklin Fire has swelled to more than 4,000 acres. A long stretch of dry, windy conditions means there's a heightened risk that new ignitions could spread quickly. The fire in photos ... Get the latest.

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Los Angeles residents flee wildfire as fierce winds gain strength

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters scrambled to corral a fast-moving wildfire in the Los Angeles hillsides dotted with celebrity homes as a fierce windstorm hit Southern California on Tuesday, fanning the blaze seen for miles as scores of residents abandoned their cars and fled on foot to safety with roads blocked.

https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-southern-california-santa-ana-winds-c48661615061eb631784b666cddfa4ac?

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📷 Fast-moving wildfires terrify L.A.

A brush fire burns near homes in Pacific Palisades, Calif., yesterday. Photo: David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images L.A. County saw multiple wildfires erupt as dry, "extremely critical" fire conditions and Santa Ana winds threatened Southern California. The National Weather Service warns the worst is yet to come, Axios' Rebecca Falconer and Andrew Freedman report. 30,000+ people evacuated and 3,000 acres burned near the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood of West L.A., between the beach towns of Santa Monica and Malibu. The area is home to many film and music stars. (Reuters) Residents of a senior center evacuate in Altadena, Calif., yesterday. Photo: Ethan Swope/AP A traffic jam on Palisades Drive prevented emergency vehicles from getting through, and a bulldozer was brought in to push the abandoned cars aside. Video along the famed Pacific Coast Highway showed widespread destruction of homes and businesses. A police officer knocks to alert people to an evacuation order, as a wildfire burns last night in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of West L.A. Photo: Daniel Cole/Reuters L.A. Lakers coach JJ Redick said at a game in Dallas that members of his family were among those in L.A. forced to evacuate and were "freaking out." The fire swept across a hillside where Redick lives alongside other celebrities. Get the latest.

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Wildfires burn out of control across Los Angeles area and kill 2 as thousands flee homes

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Massive wildfires roaring through the Los Angeles area left neighborhoods in ruins Wednesday, killing at least two people and threatening landmarks made famous by Hollywood as desperate residents escaped through flames, hurricane-force winds and towering columns of smoke.

https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-southern-california-santa-ana-winds-b565a3bd043d6444820f1571b2307bf1?

California wildfires

Powerful winds are fueling dangerous wildfires in Los Angeles, where tens of thousands of residents in the Pacific Palisades and other seaside neighborhoods have been ordered to evacuate. The Palisades fire has burned over 3,000 acres and destroyed homes and businesses. Dozens of drivers abandoned their cars on Tuesday as some chose to flee the flames on foot. California's governor is urging residents to heed the evacuation warnings that extend from Malibu to Santa Monica. Energy providers have begun shutting off power in high-risk areas to prevent damaged infrastructure from igniting more blazes. Many southern California residents are also evacuating from the Eaton fire — a 400-acre blaze that erupted in Altadena, in eastern LA County.

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California wildfires live updates: 5 dead as fires tear through Los Angeles area

At least five people were killed and more than 1,000 structures have been destroyed as fierce wildfires rage in the Los Angeles area, officials said. Fast-moving flames burned through homes and businesses as residents fled smoke-filled canyons and picturesque neighborhoods that are home to many celebrities.

https://apnews.com/live/live-updates-wildfire-los-angeles-palisades?

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L.A.'s hell

Firefighters battle the Eaton Fire yesterday in Pasadena, Calif. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images Officials in Los Angeles acknowledged they were overwhelmed by the size and speed of the wildfires now tearing through the city. "Together, these fires are stretching the capacity of emergency services to their maximum limits," Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said today, per the L.A. Times. State of play: More than 23,000 acres across wealthy sections of L.A. have burned in the past 24 hours — the most destructive fire in the city's modern history. At least two people have died, and thousands have had to evacuate. The fires — listed as 0% contained — have destroyed hundreds of buildings and choked major parts of the metro area in thick smoke. Multiple fires cover the L.A. skyline with smoke today. Photo: Carlin Stiehl/Reuters Strong winds have limited firefighters' ability to combat the blazes from the air. And some fire hydrants ran dry, especially in older neighborhoods, Bloomberg reports. Gov. Gavin Newsom said more than 1,400 firefighters, emergency personnel and first responders have been deployed to fight "these unprecedented fires," including members of the state's National Guard. The latest ... Photos from the scene.