Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - Oct / Nov 2019 - 23rd Nov 2019
View this newsletter in fullCalifornia wildfires signal the arrival of a planetary fire age
The transition to a fossil fuel civilization affects how people in industrial societies live on the land and what kind of fire practices they adopt.
1st Nov 2019 - The Conversation UK
Podcast: 3 Key Factors Behind California's Wildfires
Californians face a terrible new normal as wildfire season grows longer and more intense. Jennifer Montgomery, head of California's Forest Management Task Force, explains three key factors at the heart of why the state is now at such high risk.
29th Oct 2019 - NPR
Wildfires break out in California amid power outage
Despite an unprecedented effort to prevent wildfires, at least three of them erupted in Southern California on Thursday afternoon fueled by strong winds and dry conditions.
10th Oct 2019 - CBS News
Despair for Many and Silver Linings for Some in California Wildfires
Natural disasters are another prism through which California’s vast income inequalities can be viewed.
22nd Nov 2019 - The New York Times
State of emergency declared as California wildfires ravage homes
With nearly 200,000 people ordered to leave their homes as wildfires as ferocious winds spread wildfires through bone-dry vegetation, California’s governor declared a statewide emergency.
22nd Nov 2019 - Metro.co.uk
'You can't fight this': California wildfires force evacuation in Sonoma county
At least 185,000 evacuated as firefighters battle el diablo winds. Governor calls state emergency as 2 million left without power
22nd Nov 2019 - The Guardian
Assessing Recent California Wildfire Damage
Despite historically strong winds, California firefighters have been making progress containing multiple major fires. And the damage to homes has been light compared to recent years.
2nd Nov 2019 - NPR
California Wildfires, Power Shut-Offs Highlight Climate Change Inequality
California's largest utility has shut off power to millions of people in past weeks, most recently leaving tens of thousands of homes powerless into Thursday in an effort to avoid starting more of the wildfires that are devastating the state.
21st Nov 2019 - U.S. News & World Report
Can new fire detection technology save California from wildfires?
Podcast: On this episode of Reset, hear what it’s like to spend months living in a fire lookout tower.
22nd Nov 2019 - Vox.com
Australia Wildfire Map: Homes Destroyed As About 150 Fires Burn in New South Wales, Queensland
The wildfire threat in Australia's New South Wales (NSW) could be catastrophic, and with about 150 fires burning in both that state and Queensland, officials said flames still posed a risk to residents.
22nd Nov 2019 - Newsweek
Sydney skyline barely visible through thick smoke from wildfires
Thick smoke from wildfires has shrouded Sydney and its surrounding areas, with health experts warning residents with medical conditions to remain indoors.
19th Nov 2019 - New York Post
Scientists disprove Bolsonaro government claim devastating Amazon wildfires had nothing to do with deforestation
Fires raging across the Amazon this summer were not “normal” new research shows, counteracting claims made by the Brazilian government that they were “below the historical average”.
19th Nov 2019 - The Independent
Brazil wildfires: Blaze advances across Pantanal wetlands
A 50 kilometre-long (31 mile) wildfire is advancing across Brazil's Pantanal wetlands.
1st Nov 2019 - BBC
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - Jan - March 2019 - 12th Mar 2019
View this newsletter in fullWill the government shutdown make it difficult to suppress wildfires?
Today the wildfire danger was “elevated” or “critical” in parts of New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas according to the National Weather *Service's* Storm Prediction ...
21st Jan 2019 - Wildfire Today
Government Shutdown Adversely Affects Workers Fighting Wildfires
Steve Inskeep talks to Scott Gorman and Sarah Barnes, a husband and wife who have had to make difficult decisions for their family as a result of the government shutdown.f the ...
21st Jan 2019 - NPR
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 16th Jan 2019
View this newsletter in fullThousands of lightning strikes spark wildfires in Australia
Around 2,500 lightning strikes have ignited dozens of fires across Australia's island state of Tasmania, adding to a number of dangerous blazes, authorities said.
16th Jan 2019 - Business Standard
Wildfire rapidly spreads in Hawaii, forces evacuations
Video: A quick moving wildfire rapidly spread near Maui, Hawaii, on January 6th. The fire scorched through more than 200 acres, as crews worked to contain it.
16th Jan 2019 - AccuWeather.com
Shutdown Could Have Long-Term Effects On Wildfire Disaster Response
Firefighters and forest managers are losing valuable time to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season. It's one of the long-term impacts of the government shutdown imposed by President Trump.
13th Jan 2019 - NPR
California utility firm suspected of starting deadly wildfires goes bankrupt
A firefighter battling the Camp fire, which became California’s deadliest in history. Photograph: Noah Berger/AP The utility company that services more than a third of California announced Monday it plans to file for bankruptcy by the end of the month.
14th Jan 2019 - The Guardian
Federal shutdown has halted training, other wildfire prep, and it could get worse
9th Jan 2019 - Miami Herald
Modern energy infrastructure could mitigate California’s wildfire crisis
By 2050 the area burned by fire in the state will increase by 77 percent and costs will go up by 24 percent.
12th Jan 2019 - The Hill
This Is What More Than A Century Of Wildfires In California Looks Like
In the last two decades, 13 percent of the state has gone up in flames.
12th Jan 2019 - HuffPost
More wildfires, drought and climate change bring devastating changes to California wildlands
Southern California's native landscapes are famously tough. But repeated wildfire and drought amplified by climate change pose a growing threat to wildlands ...
12th Jan 2019 - Los Angeles Times
Climate change doubled risk of B.C.'s record-setting 2017 wildfires: study
Research suggests British Columbia's record-setting 2017 wildfire season wasn't an accident and Environment Canada scientists say that climate change stacked the deck against the province from the start.
8th Jan 2019 - CTV News
Trump threatens to cut off federal funding for California wildfire relief
President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to cut off federal relief aid to California for wildfires, prompting a swift response from new Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom that "disasters and recovery are no time for politics."
9th Jan 2019 - CNBC
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 1st Jan 2019
View this newsletter in fullWildfires: Attorney General says PG&E could face murder charges
In a brief submitted to a federal court, the California Attorney General wrote that Pacific Gas & Electric could be prosecuted for murder, manslaughter or lesser criminal charges if investigators determine that “reckless operation” of its power equipment caused any of the wildfires in which people were killed during the last 15 months.
31st Dec 2018 - Wildfiretoday.com
Top videos for 2018: Wildfires rage
Counting down the top videos stories for 2018 in the Okanagan and Shuswap
31st Dec 2018 - Salmon Arm Observer
'The scale was devastating': How the Athens wildfires became one of the deadliest in the world
Wildfires broke out in Greece in the coastal town of Attica, north of Athens, in mid-July, and as the mercury climbed, so too did the blaze.
29th Dec 2018 - 9news.com.au
After year of deadly wildfires, who will pick up the tab for natural disasters?
The rising cost of climate-driven disasters including hurricanes and fires is prompting Fema to shift more responsibility to states
27th Dec 2018 - The Guardian
New satellites can aid in management of wildfires
GOES-16, operating as NOAA’s GOES East satellite, is proving to be an invaluable asset in detecting wildfires and helping forecasters provide proactive tactical decision-support services.
26th Dec 2018 - Wildfiretoday.com
How Houses Themselves Become Fuel For Wildfires
It's long been a misperception that most homes burn when that initial big, dramatic wall of flames from the fire blows through. But the science shows most homes actually tend to burn long after this, sometimes even a day later.
24th Dec 2018 - NPR.org
How Do Wildfires Start?
An insight in the causes that trigger wildfires
30th Nov -0001 - Livescience.com
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 16th Dec 2018
View this newsletter in fullFire services count costs of Wales' summer wildfires
North Wales Fire Service spent almost £300,000 battling one fire, while the south Wales service's expenditure at least trebled compared to previous years in the space of just two months.
15th Dec 2018 - BBC
Wildfire scientists brace for hotter, more flammable future as Paradise lies in ashes
The Camp Fire may be studied for lessons in disaster management and community resilience, those who study fire, water, wind and climate see it as a warning to brace for a hotter, more flammable future.
11th Dec 2018 - CNN
Wildfires Will Only Get Worse in the Southeast Because of Climate Change, Report Says
More than 300 experts took part in the 1,600-plus-page report, ranging from 13 government agencies, universities, climate scientists and other experts. It is the first such report under the Trump administration and fourth overall. The report is mandated by law.
10th Dec 2018 - Govtech.com
California’s 2018 Wildfires Have Emitted A Year’s Worth of Power Pollution
California’s record-breaking 2018 wildfire season has released emissions equivalent to about 68 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere – equal to the emissions produced from generating one year’s worth of electricity in the state, or about 15 percent of California’s total annual emissions.
3rd Dec 2018 - Yale Environment 360
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 3rd Dec 2018
View this newsletter in fullCalifornia’s wildfires: is this the new normal?
In The Case for Letting Malibu Burn, the historian Mike Davis once argued that wildfire damage to the exclusive coastal community west of Los Angeles had become so inevitable that state resources would more fairly be deployed by abandoning it to its fate.
20th Nov 2018 - The Times
We Can’t Stop Wildfires – We Need To Relearn How To Live With Them
19th Nov 2018 - Huffington Post UK
California wildfires and environmental radicalism
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Breitbart News Sunday blamed California’s 7,421 wildfires that have burned 1,665,746 acres, destroyed 30,000 structures and killed at least 82 individuals and six firefighters so far in 2018.
22nd Nov 2018 - American Thinker
Trump's interior secretary blames deadly California wildfires on ‘radical environmental groups’ who fight against forest thinning
22nd Nov 2018 - The Independent
California wildfires: smoke spreads to New York, 3000 miles away
The US east coast has been provided a firsthand reminder of the deadly California wildfires after smoke swept across the country and caused a haze to envelop the eastern seaboard, including Washington DC and New York City.
22nd Nov 2018 - The Guardian
Better Forest Management Won't End Wildfires, But It Can Reduce The Risks
In cases like the Camp Fire in Northern California, where low humidity, dry vegetation, hot temperatures and high winds have created extreme fire conditions, there is little that homeowners, forest landowners or land managers can do to affect fire behavior. Fire is a natural hazard, like earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes. It is unique in that it can develop with little warning and last for weeks or even months.
22nd Nov 2018 - Global Economic Intersection
California wildfires: Rain brings threat of mudslides
Rain has come to northern California, helping to contain deadly wildfires but bringing fears of mudslides that may complicate recovery efforts.
22nd Nov 2018 - BBC
How Wildfires Are Making Some California Homes Uninsurable
California's wildfires keep growing bigger, more frequent and more destructive. Of the 20 worst wildfires in state history, four were just last year, giving rise to a record $12.6 billion of insurance claims. It hasn't gotten any better this year. The ...and more »
22nd Nov 2018 - New York Times
Hurricanes Get Nearly Three Times the News Coverage as Wildfires, Report Says
Despite the fact that there have been thousands of wildfires in California in 2018, including one considered the deadliest in the state's history, and just 10 hurricanes in North America, there have been nearly three times as many media stories about ...
22nd Nov 2018 - Fortune
Who is to blame for the massive wildfires in California?
As crews continue to search for victims for the devastating Camp Fire, a political firestorm is brewing over whether climate change or resource mismanagement is to blame
20th Nov 2018 - Yahoo!
Death toll rises further to 79 in Californian wildfires
The number of people now feared missing in the wake of the Californian wildfires has risen to almost thirteen hundred with 79 people confirmed to have died.
18th Nov 2018 - Channel 4 News
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 17th Nov 2018
View this newsletter in fullDeath toll jumps to 25 in California wildfires; 57000 buildings threatened
At least 25 people have died in massive wildfires in California, authorities reported late Saturday. In Northern California, 25 people have been reported dead in the Camp Fire, making this the second deadliest fire in California history.
11th Nov 2018 - USA TODAY
Crews fight to save homes from massive California wildfires
12th Nov 2018 - Reuters
California wildfires: death toll climbs to 31
12th Nov 2018 - The Week UK
California wildfires: Death toll rises to 31 with 200 missing
12th Nov 2018 - BBC
A massive wall of wildfires rage in California (Video)
11th Nov 2018 - The Guardian
Devil winds kick up as California wildfires leave 25 dead
11th Nov 2018 - The Irish Times
As 3 wildfires rage, California's Red Flag Warning updated to last into the week
11th Nov 2018 - Sacramento Bee
At Least 25 Killed In California Wildfires
11th Nov 2018 - NPR
228 people missing after Northern California wildfires: authorities
11th Nov 2018 - The Hill
Destructive California wildfires magnified by population and shifting climate
combination of dry ground, low relative humidity and gusty winds from the mountains are making conditions ripe for fires to spread out of control.
11th Nov 2018 - CBS News
These Wind Patterns Explain Why California's Wildfires Are So Bad
The driving force has been extreme wind, gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, perhaps even 70 in the hills of Southern California, blowing through the state. Wind further desiccates already dry vegetation and pushes the fires along with incredible speed.
11th Nov 2018 - WIRED
10 ways climate change can make wildfires worse
Deadly wildfires such as those raging in northern and southern California have become more common across the state and elsewhere in the world in recent years.
Agence France-Presse talked to scientists about the ways in which climate change can make them worse. Other factors have also fuelled an increase in the frequency and intensity of major fires, including human encroachment in wooded areas, and questionable forest management.
11th Nov 2018 - The Straits Times
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 6th Nov 2018
View this newsletter in fullMinorities Are Most Vulnerable When Wildfires Strike in U.S., Study Finds
The research illustrates how the kinds of disasters that are exacerbated by climate change often hit people of color and the poor the hardest.
6th Nov 2018 - New York Times
Minority groups far more vulnerable to deadly US wildfires, study finds
3rd Nov 2018 - The Independent
Cape wildfires: 86000 hectares scorched
t's been 13 days of raging wildfires from George to Knysna and now threatening Plettenberg Bay. In the George area, the fire claimed the lives of eight people, all of them were members of the same family.
So far, 86,000 hectares of vegetation has been destroyed, with that number set to increase.
6th Nov 2018 - eNCA
Wildfires have memories - Wildfire Today (blog)
Researchers studying how wildfires have burned at a particular location found that subsequent fires have a “memory” that helped to self-regulate fire sizes and fire severity.
6th Nov 2018 - Wildfire Today (blog)
Two-minute explanation of how wildfires burn
The New York Times produced this quick explanation of how wildfires ignite, spread, and are suppressed.
5th Nov 2018 - Wildfire Today (blog)
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 15th Oct 2018
View this newsletter in fullWildfires in North Wales more than tripled during summer heatwave
Between May and July, the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service tackled 446 grass and wildfires.This was more than three times the summertime yearly average from 2014 to 2017, Press Association analysis found
10th Oct 2018 - North Wales Chronicle
Fire services stretched as new figures show wildfires double in 2018
7th Oct 2018 - ITV News
2015-2016 El Niño: Wildfires in Amazon led to over 30 million tonnes of CO2 emission
Almost one million hectare of primary and secondary forests was burned during the 2015–2016 El Niño season
11th Oct 2018 - Down To Earth Magazine
Are Wildfires Getting Worse?
While this is a very small sample upon which to base judgments, there is a clear case to be made that the intensity and frequency of wildfires in California and beyond is becoming more extreme every year.
10th Oct 2018 - Pollution Solutions-Online.com
The quest to predict, and stop, the spread of wildfires
Previous attempts to forecast the spread of fire have been crude and inaccurate – but new experiments promise huge improvements.
8th Oct 2018 - BBC
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 10th Oct 2018
View this newsletter in fullUsing Technology To Assess Wildfire Risk And Combat Wildfires
Global losses from catastrophic events such as hurricanes and floods have steadily increased over the past decade, but wildfire-related losses in 2017 completely blindsided the property and casualty insurance industry.
24th Sep 2018 - Forbes
Wildfire season: Is this the new normal?
According to Robert W. Sandford, a Fellow of the US Centre for Hydrology, and EPCOR Chair in Water and Climate Security with the United Nations University, a decade ago scientists predicted a whopping 75–120 percent increase in the amount of area burned each year, and now it is happening.
17th Sep 2018 - Phys.org
US deaths from wildfire smoke could double in the next century, despite human efforts
According to a study published by published by GeoHealth, U.S. deaths from chronic inhalation of wildfire smoke could double from 15,000 per year to 42,000 within the next 100 years.
12th Sep 2018 - San Francisco Gate
We know exactly how to stop wildfires, with money
The newest Federal budget lets the various forest-related agencies pull other money in to deal with suppression. Fire scientists mostly agree that so-called active fuel management, setting controlled fires or cutting down small trees and clearing out undergrowth, is the way of the future.
11th Sep 2018 - Wired
Cal Fire Is Burning Through Their Budget, With Months Of The Fire Season Left
Cal Fire announced it already spent $432 million of the $443 million dollar budget, leaving only $11 million remaining. Fire officials anticipate needing an additional $234 million for the necessary resources to make it through the rest of the fire season.
9th Sep 2018 - CBS Sacramento
Twenty-one new forest fires reported in Ontario, ministry says most caused by lightning
A spokesman for Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says the 21 new forest fires in northwestern Ontario reported Friday night were caused by lightning.
8th Sep 2018 - The Star.com
Progress Urged As Bangkok Climate Talks Open
Against the backdrop of severe and record heatwaves, bushfires, droughts and floods across the world, governments are convening a supplementary meeting in Bangkok to prepare the implementation guidelines of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. The guidelines are needed to make the Paris Agreement work fairly and transparently for all.
3rd Sep 2018 - Scoop.co.nz
California lawmakers pass bill on PG&E wildfire liability
California’s legislature passed a bill late on Friday that could help the utility Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation (PG&E) avoid potentially crippling liabilities for wildfires that ravaged northern parts of the San Francisco Bay Area last year.
1st Sep 2018 - Reuters
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 7th Sep 2018
View this newsletter in fullCalifornia wildfires now largest in state history
Twin Northern California blazes fuelled by dry vegetation and hot, windy weather grew to become the largest wildfire in state history, becoming the norm as climate change makes the fire season longer and more severe. The two fires burning a few miles ...
7th Aug 2018 - The Telegraph
Wildfire smoke is wreaking havoc on air quality in the Western US
The destructive wildfires that continue to burn thousands of acres across California have created an air pollution nightmare for millions of residents on the West Coast.
7th Aug 2018 - The Washington Post
In Photos: The 2018 California Wildfires as Seen from Space
The 2018 California Wildfires as Seen from Space in a series of photographs
7th Aug 2018 - Space.com
Authorities release new details on wildfires still burning across western, central Colorado - The Denver Channel
Firefighters continue to work on wildfires in western and central Colorado. Fire authorities have released new estimates on how big these fires have grown (or how much they have decreased in size), if they are contained and more.
7th Aug 2018 - The Denver Channel
Yosemite Valley Is Closed Indefinitely, Due to Wildfires
You won't be seeing Yosemite National Park's iconic El Capitan or Half Dome anytime soon. In light of the Ferguson wildfire that has already burned more than 90,000 acres since July 13, national park service officials have decided to scrap a reopening
7th Aug 2018 - Condé Nast Traveler
Why wildfires are becoming the new normal
CNN's Allison Chinchar explains why wildfire season in the US is lasting longer and burning more acres of land than ever.
3rd Aug 2018 - CNN
California firefighters battle an enemy they can"t beat
More than 1,000 homes have burned, but countless more were saved by firefighters. More than 4,000 firefighters from across the country are assigned to the fire, battling flames in triple-digit temperatures and choking smoke.
3rd Aug 2018 - USA Today
How Climate Change Contributed to This Summer"s Wildfires
Ninety-five wildfires are scorching the country from Texas to Oregon, and have burned 4.8 million acres. “This is just July,” Lynne Tolmachoff, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told CBS.
1st Aug 2018 - The New Yorker
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 3rd Aug 2018
View this newsletter in fullSweden is battling its most serious wildfire situation of modern times. Here"s what you need to know
Swedish firefighters have been battling throughout the summer in what has been described by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency as the country's "most serious" wildfire situation of modern times.
17th Jul 2018 - The Local Sweden
Sweden"s wildfires still serious with heatwave on the horizon
22nd Jul 2018 - The Local Sweden
Arctic Circle wildfires rage on as blistering heat takes hold of northern Europe
18th Jul 2018 - Sky News
Greece wildfires: dozens dead as holiday resort devastated
At least 49 people have been killed, scores more injured and almost 700 others rescued from the sea after a devastating wildfire swept through a small resort town near Athens, the Greek fire department has said.
24th Jul 2018 - The Guardian
Greece wildfires - State of emergency near Athens as at least 60 people are killed
24th Jul 2018 - Sky News
1 Person Dead and Hundreds of Homes Destroyed as Wildfires Sweep Through California
Firefighters battling wildfires throughout the U.S. West that have torched hundreds of homes got some help from the weather Saturday, even as they tallied damage from new fires that erupted amid a Southern California heat wave.
7th Jul 2018 - Time.com
Wildfires spread across West, including one so large it can be seen from space
11th Jul 2018 - The Boston Globe
California wildfires: nine missing and two firefighters killed
Nine people were reported missing as wildfires in northern California that have killed two firefighters, destroyed hundreds of buildings and forced thousands of residents to flee their homes burned out of control on Saturday.
28th Jul 2018 - The Guardian
Heatwaves: The factors causing Arctic wildfires and Africa"s hottest temperature
An insight into why countries have experienced record temperature highs in recent weeks.
23rd Jul 2018 - The South African
Fast-spreading California wildfire nears Yosemite park
A raging California mountain blaze that has already killed one firefighter grew over the weekend and bore down on Yosemite National Park, prompting the closure of some smoke-choked campgrounds and roads at the popular tourist destination.
22nd Jul 2018 - Reuters
Forest fires devastate western Latvia
Extreme heat has made the job difficult for Latvian firefighters, as hundreds of hectares have been scorched in the west of the country. Meteorologists have said that unfavorable conditions will continue for two weeks.
22nd Jul 2018 - Deutsche Welle
Yosemite wildfire doubles in size, could "become a major threat"
A deadly California wildfire more than doubled in size and raged through more than 14 square miles of brush and forest, blanketing much of Yosemite National Park in smoke and forcing closure of a major access road at the height of tourist season.
17th Jul 2018 - USA Today
70 wildfires ignited by lightning in Southern Oregon, evacuations ordered
A lightning storm ignited between 50 and 70 wildfires in southwest Oregon on Sunday. Two of the fires caused major concern to the Rogue Valley, including the evacuation of around 20 to 30 homes outside Jacksonville.
17th Jul 2018 - Statesman Journal
Huge North Wales wildfires saw firefighters face biggest challenge in more than a decade
Firefighters have dealt with 225 wildfires in less than three weeks during what has already become the busiest summer in decades. Recent blazes in Carmel, Bethesda,Bangor, and Holyhead have been enraged by the hot weather.
16th Jul 2018 - Daily Post
Wildfires are making extreme air pollution even worse in the northwest U.S.
Air quality in states from Nevada to Montana is worse than it was 30 years ago on the days with the most extreme air pollution. Bigger and more frequent wildfires that spew plumes of fine particulate matter into the sky are largely to blame
16th Jul 2018 - Science News
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 9th Jul 2018
View this newsletter in fullWildfires scorch drought-stricken West
A fast-moving brush fire destroyed homes in Utah, while more than 3,000 people in Colorado and Wyoming fled multiple wildfires on Wednesday.
13th Jun 2018 - NBC News
Multiple wildfires threaten the Western US (Video)
13th Jun 2018 - NBC News
Wildfires Blaze Across Parts Of Southwest
14th Jun 2018 - NPR
4 big myths about wildfire
Wildfires are growing larger and more destructive than ever before due to climate change, drought, a lack of funding for prevention programs and other factors. This makes wildfire an especially pressing issue. Unfortunately, it is frequently misunderstood. Especially with more and more people moving and building homes closer to wildlands, it is vital that we separate wildfire myths and facts.
18th Jun 2018 - Wilderness.org
Flash flooding feared as Colorado wildfires rage
At least 18 large wildfires burning in eight Western states have torched nearly 155,000 acres. Near Durango, Colorado, more than 1,000 firefighters are trying to control a drought-fueled fire in the San Juan National Forest.
15th Jun 2018 - CBS News
Goats hired to help prevent deadly wildfires in Portugal
Dozens of herds have been hired by the government to destroy the thick grasses that make wildfires a regular occurrence.event.
13th Jun 2018 - Sky News
Hundreds of firefighters battling 250 acre wildfire in Laguna Beach.
A wind-driven brush fire has consumed 250 acres and was threatening structures near a canyon between Aliso Viejo and Laguna Beach.
2nd Jun 2018 - Kusi.com
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 7th Jun 2018
View this newsletter in fullFloods, wildfires spark evacuation concerns from some northern Albertans
Nine wildfires burning in the High Level forest area Saturday prompted the most recent emergency alert for Mackenzie County, an area of northern Alberta larger than Prince Edward Island. The wildfires temporarily closed Highways 58 and 35, and some residents were on standby for a possible evacuation.
13th May 2018 - CBC.ca
Evacuation ended for Crutwell, Sask.; wildfire still burning out of control
16th May 2018 - Global News
Wildfires engulf over 74,000 hectares in Russia's regions
Over the past day of May 10, forest fire crews extinguished 92 wildfires covering 25,301 hectares. By 00:00 Moscow time May 11, 54 forest fires covering 63,564 hectares were active on the territory of the Russian Federation, and extinguishment efforts were underway," the report says.
11th May 2018 - Kazinform
Armageddon as wildfires ignite forest around Komsomolsk-on-Amur
13th May 2018 - Siberian Times
Wildfires continue to burn in Contra Costa, Alameda counties
Firefighters continued to combat strong headwinds Thursday as they tried to put out seven wildfires that erupted a day prior in Contra Costa County. As of 1:30 p.m. they had reached 80 percent containment, officials said. The fires were first reported around 1 p.m. Wednesday and are burning in the area between Camino Diablo and the Alameda County line.
31st May 2018 - San Francisco Gate
Scientists race to reveal how surging wildfire smoke is affecting climate and health
Emily Fischer, an atmospheric scientist at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, is preparing to spend the summer flying through plumes of wildfire smoke aboard a C-130 cargo plane jammed full of scientific equipment. The flights are the highlight of an unprecedented effort to better understand the chemistry and physics of wildfire smoke, as well as how it affects climate, air pollution, and human health.
31st May 2018 - Science Mag
2018 Predicted to be Challenging Wildfire Year
The USDA Forest Service is well prepared to respond to wildfires in what is currently forecast to be another challenging year. In 2018, the agency has more than 10,000 firefighters, 900 engines, and hundreds of aircraft available to manage wildfires.
11th May 2018 - USDA.gov
California burning: life among the wildfires
George Marshall’s book Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change. After spending 15 years studying climate change-denying microcultures, Marshall concluded that facts don’t change people’s minds – only stories do. We’re so motivated by wanting to belong that we’d rather risk the dangers of climate change than the more immediate symbolic death of estrangement from our peers. In order to address climate change in our communities, Marshall suggests, we must appeal to the same desires that religion does: belonging, consolation and redemption.
4th May 2018 - The Guardian
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 3rd May 2018
View this newsletter in fullRaging wildfires leave at least two dead in Oklahoma
Wildfires which have killed two people in western Oklahoma could spread and more could ignite as wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour whip an area where scant rain has fallen in five months, fire and forestry officials said.
20th Apr 2018 - The Weather Network
Oklahoma wildfire: Forecasters warn of dangerous life-threatening conditions from wind-whipped blaze
18th Apr 2018 - The Independent
Deadly Wildfires Continue In Western Oklahoma
18th Apr 2018 - News on 6United States
Extreme Fire Danger Issued While Wildfires Continue To Burn In Western OK
17th Apr 2018 - News 9
Oklahoma wildfires kill 1, force evacuations
17th Apr 2018 - KY3
Oklahoma wildfires: 34 Complex slows, Rhea continues to spread
17th Apr 2018 - Wildfire Today
U.S. COLORADO This Map Shows Where All the Colorado Wildfires Are Burning
Colorado is facing extreme wildfire conditions this week, the National Weather Service in Boulder warned Tuesday. The service said critical to extreme fire weather conditions will develop throughout the Denver metro area, Palmer Divide, South Park, southern Foothills and the east-central and southeast Plains, and that new fires can start and rapidly grow.
17th Apr 2018 - Time
Wildfire Fanned By Strong Winds Has Burned 10 Homes
18th Apr 2018 - CBS Local Denver
Rare, life-threatening wildfire weather ravaging Colorado and region
17th Apr 2018 - The Denver Channel
Kansas Wildfire Disaster
Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer has issued a disaster declaration in response to a series of wildfires in the western part of the state.
18th Apr 2018 - KSAL
The Latest: Firefighting crews contain Kansas wildfires
18th Apr 2018 - Tampa Bay
Much-needed rain arrives in drought-, fire-stricken Southwest
A disturbance that developed in the high Plains is bringing a mix of rain and snow to parts of Colorado, and heavy rain and strong storms to parts of the central and southern Plains on Saturday. The storms are also bringing beneficial rain to parts of the drought-stricken Southwest.
21st Apr 2018 - ABC News
Unravelling a scientific mystery: Could wildfire ash end up in our fish dinner?
Scientists are studying how of ash produced by wildfire may affect the marine ecosystem.
19th Apr 2018 - CBC News
Wildfires rage in several states with homes destroyed, neighborhoods at risk
Millions face elevated to extreme fire conditions, as crews battle blazes in Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado, where dozens of homes have been destroyed and thousands of acres burnt.
19th Apr 2018 - NBC News
Forecasters warn of rare, life-threatening wildfire weather
Forecasters warned of dangerous, life-threatening wildfire conditions in parts of the Southwest and Southern Plains on Tuesday, as a forestry official warned firefighters battling a terrifying deadly blaze in Oklahoma that it would be a ‘‘historically critical day.’’
18th Apr 2018 - The Boston Globe
Boulder Sues Exxon Over Climate Change: Wildfires, Droughts and Water Are a Few Reasons Why
The city and Boulder County joined San Miguel County, home to the ski slopes of Telluride, in suing two fossil fuel companies—ExxonMobil and Suncor—over the costs of dealing with climate change.
18th Apr 2018 - Inside Climate News
Climate Change, Wildfire, and the Future of Forests
Researchers studied 1,500 Rocky Mountain forests that had been burned by wildfires. They found that most of the woods aren't recovering after the blaze—and in some cases, they're not returning at all. The culprit? A warming planet.
18th Apr 2018 - Outside Online
State of disaster declared to fight drought and wildfire
Extensive drought and wildfire threats statewide led Governor Greg Abbott to declare a threat of imminent disaster for at least 72 counties, including many in the South Plains.
17th Apr 2018 - KFYO
Wildfire potential, April through July
“Wildfire activity will increase across portions of the nation in April. The central and southern Great Plains continue to experience significant wildland fire activity. While the activity observed is Above Normal, overall trends follow a traditional seasonal progression which keeps the fire potential elevated across these areas in early April but begins a westward shift further into the Southwest by month’s end. Periods of concern will be wind events coupled with low humidities that impact fire activity. Other areas of concern are the Florida Peninsula, eastern Georgia and South Carolina where drought conditions linger. Elevated potential exists across coastal portions of Southern California where drought continues and across portions of eastern Montana where very dry residual soil conditions exist. Pregreenup fire activity could elevate during westerly flow wind events.
1st Apr 2018 - Wildfire Today
Wildfire loss in March three times higher than last year
Wildfire has gutted more than 300 hectare of forest cover in Uttarakhand in March, the damage in a month being three times higher than that of last year, official data shows. On March 29, forest fire destroyed computers, a printer, biometrics system and other infrastructure of a government high school at Chaukhutiya in Almora district. Students were in the playground when the incident happened. According to forest department figures, 330.646-hectare forest cover has been damaged since February 15 when the official fire season began, leading to an estimated revenue loss of Rs 5,87,155. In February, only 31 hectare was burnt posing a loss of Rs 33,525. Nearly 300 hectare has been lost within 29 days this month, causing a loss of Rs 5,53,630. Last year, 100.35 hectare was damaged in March posing a loss of Rs 1,72,963. In 2016, when the state reported the worst wildfire, only 43.15 hectare was burnt in March with a loss of Rs 52,475, forest department data shows.
1st Apr 2018 - Hindustan Times
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 4th Apr 2018
View this newsletter in fullWildfire potential, April through July
“Wildfire activity will increase across portions of the nation in April. The central and southern Great Plains continue to experience significant wildland fire activity. While the activity observed is Above Normal, overall trends follow a traditional seasonal progression which keeps the fire potential elevated across these areas in early April but begins a westward shift further into the Southwest by month’s end. Periods of concern will be wind events coupled with low humidities that impact fire activity. Other areas of concern are the Florida Peninsula, eastern Georgia and South Carolina where drought conditions linger. Elevated potential exists across coastal portions of Southern California where drought continues and across portions of eastern Montana where very dry residual soil conditions exist. Pregreenup fire activity could elevate during westerly flow wind events.
1st Apr 2018 - Wildfire Today
Wildfire loss in March three times higher than last year
Wildfire has gutted more than 300 hectare of forest cover in Uttarakhand in March, the damage in a month being three times higher than that of last year, official data shows. On March 29, forest fire destroyed computers, a printer, biometrics system and other infrastructure of a government high school at Chaukhutiya in Almora district. Students were in the playground when the incident happened. According to forest department figures, 330.646-hectare forest cover has been damaged since February 15 when the official fire season began, leading to an estimated revenue loss of Rs 5,87,155. In February, only 31 hectare was burnt posing a loss of Rs 33,525. Nearly 300 hectare has been lost within 29 days this month, causing a loss of Rs 5,53,630. Last year, 100.35 hectare was damaged in March posing a loss of Rs 1,72,963. In 2016, when the state reported the worst wildfire, only 43.15 hectare was burnt in March with a loss of Rs 52,475, forest department data shows.
1st Apr 2018 - Hindustan Times
Prepare for a wildfire like you would hurricane
Officials with the Florida Forest Service recommend families create an emergency supply kit, similar to one they'd put together before hurricane season. Stock it with:
Three-days worth of nonperishable foods and three gallons of water per person
Map marked with at least two evacuation routes - Prescriptions or special medical items - Change of clothing - An extra set of car keys, credit cards, cash or traveler's checks - First aid kit - Flashlight - Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
Copies of important documents (birth certificates, homeowner's insurance policy, passports) - Pet food and water
30th Mar 2018 - TCPalm
Governor signs wildfire legislation
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Tom Dent to improve wildfire preparedness and prevention was recently signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee, according to a news release. House Bill 2561 will require the commissioner of public lands direct the wildland fire advisory committee to review, analyze and make recommendations on wildfire prevention, response and suppression activities. The advisory committee also will evaluate the existing fire mobilization process and identify potential efficiencies or other reforms that may lead to a more effective, coordinated wildfire response.
30th Mar 2018 - Daily Record News
EDITORIAL: California Paying the Price for Wildfires
In addition to the tragic loss of life and the devastating financial impact on the thousands of Californians who lost homes, businesses and agriculture, the state spent nearly $1.8 billion fighting fierce wildfires, it was reported early this month.
Much of that will be reiumbursed by federal agencies — which, rather than actually being anything like good news for the American people, will help create an almost unbearable budget burden on the United States Forest Service, which can spend on few other line items these days other than fighting Western fires. Still, the state will need to come up with about $371 million of that money, and that’s on top of California’s existing wildfire budget, the Legislative Analyst’s Office told the state Senate Budget Committee.
30th Mar 2018 - Govtech.com
We're Entering an Era of Mega-Fire
A new book by Heather Hansen explores the complicated world of wildland-urban interface firefighting as it unfolded in the Cold Springs Fire near Nederland, Colorado
29th Mar 2018 - Outside Online
Extreme fire season expected; officials urge safety
Local, state federal and tribal agencies are getting ready for an extreme fire season. The New Mexico State Forestry Division says since Jan. 1, there have already been more than 140 wildfires in New Mexico. Of those, 90 percent were human-caused. Gov. Susana Martinez declared March 25-31 as "New Mexico Wildfire Awareness Week." On Tuesday morning, agency leaders came together to encourage everyone in the state to do their part to prevent forest fires. The theme of this week is, "it’s not a matter of if, but when. Prepare now."
28th Mar 2018 - kob.com
Vast boreal forest in Alberta threatened by climate change
New research shows the boreal forest in Alberta will be dramatically changed in the decades to come due to human induced climate change. As the climate warms, droughts longer and more frequent and forest fires become more prevalent the study says up to half of the western province’s vast boreal forest could be gone by 2100. The report was published this week in the journal Ecosphere, under the title, “Wildfire‐mediated vegetation change in boreal forests of Alberta, Canada”
27th Mar 2018 - RCI Net
In 20 Years, Wildfires Will Be Six Times Larger
Over the next two decades, as many as 11 states are predicted to see the average annual area burned increase by 500 percent, according to a recent study. That would mean a small fire, say 100 acres, becomes, on average, a 600-acre fire, with Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Nevada expected to increase 700 percent in burn size. It’s a grim picture for future fire seasons—one that might be inevitable, because researchers have been able to check their work from current trends.
22nd Mar 2018 - Outside Online
Wildfires destroy dozens of homes, force hundreds to flee in Australia
Australian authorities urged people to remain alert on Monday as wildfires that have destroyed dozens of homes, killed cattle and forced hundreds of residents to flee continued to burn out of control in the southeast of the country. No deaths or serious injuries were reported as of Monday morning, but the bushfires have caused extensive damage in rural areas of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW). At least 75 homes had been destroyed, authorities said. “We can’t be 100 per cent sure that everybody is accounted for... but each one of those homes that have been affected by fire will need to be looked at and just confirm that,” NSW Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
18th Mar 2018 - The Globe and Mail
Wildfires will likely get worse in western North America
The massive wildfires that burned in California, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and British Columbia in 2017 exhibited a disturbing trend: a marked increase in the amount of area burned. While it may have been an exceptional year in some respects, new research predicts that years like 2017 are likely to become more common over time. States in the interior western United States, in particular, may be faced with large increases in total wildfire area burned, potentially beyond anything that has been experienced in the past, according to the study, published in the journal PLOS ONE on December 15, 2017, as the 2017 fire season was ending. The study projects where the greatest increases in area burned are likely to occur across the western U.S. and Canada in coming decades, suggesting that large fires years, such as the recent ones in southern and northern California may become more common.
5th Mar 2018 - Earth Sky
The Energy 202: The next wildfire season starts soon. The government wants to use drones to fight it.
In response to the wildfires that have ravaged the Western United States last year, the federal government is planning to implement unmanned aircraft, which are increasingly cheaper to buy and deploy, more than ever to aid the efforts of firefighters on the ground.
5th Mar 2018 - The Washington Post
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 12th Mar 2018
View this newsletter in fullWildfires will likely get worse in western North America
States in the interior western United States, in particular, may be faced with large increases in total wildfire area burned, potentially beyond anything that has been experienced in the past, according to the study, published in the journal PLOS ONE on December 15, 2017, as the 2017 fire season was ending.
5th Mar 2018 - EarthSky
Wildfires: Smoke and cloud interactions unexpectedly result in cooling
For years, scientists determined that smoke, overall, diminishes clouds' cooling effect by absorbing light that the clouds beneath the aerosols would otherwise reflect. A new study found that smoke and cloud layers are closer to each other than previously thought. This makes the clouds more reflective of light and, thus, accelerates the clouds' cooling effect.
5th Mar 2018 - Science Daily
California Spent $1.8B Fighting 2017 Wildfires
California state agencies spent nearly $1.8 billion fighting fierce wildfires that killed dozens of people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses last year, legislative budget experts reported Thursday. The federal government will reimburse most of the costs, but the state will still need to come up with about $371 million on top of the state’s existing wildfire budget, the Legislative Analyst’s Office told the Senate Budget committee. That shouldn’t be a problem because state revenue has far exceeded expectations so far this fiscal year and the general fund is flush with cash.
5th Mar 2018 - Insurance Journal
Crews tackle wildfires through the night on two Scottish islands
Crews have been tackling a number of wildfires through the night across two Hebridean islands. Emergency services have been working to extinguish a three kilometre-long blaze at Portree, Skye, since around 7.40pm on Saturday. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “It looks like they are going to be there for a while.” Crews were also called to the Creachan Hill area on the remote isle of Barra after reports of a 500 x 600 metre fire at 7.38pm on Saturday.
4th Mar 2018 - Belfast Telegraph
Several homes lost in wildland fire south of Kiowa
Firefighters have fully contained a 377-acre brush fire that broke out Sunday morning south of Kiowa, burning four homes. The Elbert County Sheriff's Office announced the fire was full contained just after 8 p.m. after breaking out earlier Sunday morning around 10:15 a.m. It began near County Road 118 and County Road 45 and spread quickly due to high winds and dry conditions in the area.
4th Mar 2018 - 9News.com.au
Agricultural policy can reduce wildfires
The introduction of new agricultural policies can reduce the damage caused by wildfires in Southern Europe. Last year, once again, forest fires took their toll in southern Europe. In Portugal alone, at least 500,000 acres were burned, 100 people were killed, and 500 houses were lost.
2nd Mar 2018 - Science Magazine
NASA's new weather satellite will show us wildfires and storms in ...
The launch of NASA's GOES-S satellite will provide the capability to monitor the weather of the United States in incredible detail. The satellite will focus on concerning storms and wildfires, giving people in those areas updated information every 30 seconds.
1st Mar 2018 - Popular Science
Atlas 5 rocket launches GOES-S satellite to watch Western weather and wildfires
1st Mar 2018 - GeekWire
California spent nearly $1.8 billion last year fighting major wildfires
California state agencies spent nearly $1.8 billion fighting fierce wildfires that killed dozens of people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses last year.
1st Mar 2018 - Los Angeles Times
US and Cuban forces unite to fight a common foe: wildfire at Guantanamo
For a few days last week, soldiers from the U.S. and Cuba fought on the same side, battling a massive wildfire that threatened Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. The blaze set off nearly 1,000 land mines and burned 1,700 acres, forcing the evacuation of six neighborhoods on the naval base.
1st Mar 2018 - USA Today
Wildfires - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 1st Feb 2018
View this newsletter in fullHighway closures from wildfires help push Prince George airport to record year
Prince George's airport had its busiest year in 2017, driven by passengers trying to bypass wildfires and new flights to Edmonton, Alta., and Dawson Creek, B.C. The biggest increases came in July and August, which saw passenger traffic increase by 18 and 21 per cent over the same month in 2016, respectively. They were also the months that saw B.C. encounter its worst wildfire season on record, with thousands of evacuees from the Cariboo region forced into Prince George because highways further south were closed for weeks at a time.
21st Jan 2018 - CBC.ca
California Today: Price Gouging Complaints After the Wildfires
The wildfires that have swept through California have led to numerous complaints about landlords drastically raising prices or evicting tenants to capitalize on rising demand. This has prompted Gov. Jerry Brown to impose a six-month ban on rent increases in excess of 10 percent, while Attorney General Xavier Becerra has warned against all forms of price gouging.
21st Jan 2018 - New York Times
Australia: Hundreds saved from wildfires in Royal National Park
Firefighters have rescued hundreds of hikers and tourists from Australia's Royal National Park after wildfires ravaged the national park south of Sydney. One out-of-control fire was still burning in the park on Sunday, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service said, adding that people still in the vicinity should stay informed about wildfire conditions. More than 100 firefighters — with the help of water bombers and aircraft — responded to two blazes that have destroyed over 600 hectares of land in the 15,000-hectare park. They extinguished a smaller fire on Saturday, but worked through the night to Sunday to contain the spread of the larger fire.
21st Jan 2018 - Deutsche Welle
Officials predict more wildfires for Kansas in 2018
The central and southern Plains, including western and southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma and most of Texas, face an elevated threat of wildfires through April. The prediction comes from Kansas State University scientists and a government organization that assesses risks, the Wichita Eagle reported. The warning issued earlier this week comes after back-to-back years of the worst wildfires in Kansas history. The fires burned thousands of acres and destroyed homes, cattle, fences and power lines. More than 700,000 acres burned in more than 20 counties last March.
20th Jan 2018 - Seattle Times
State will not appeal FEMA denial for wildfire assistance
State emergency managers said they won’t appeal the federal government’s decision to deny millions of dollars in additional aid to deal with Montana’s historic 2017 wildfire season. Governor Steve Bullock sent a letter in November asking President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster in the state, in response to the dozens of major fires and thousands of smaller ones that burned across Montana last summer. That declaration would have given the state access to about $44 million dollars in federal aid. But last month, administrators with the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied the request, saying the damage wasn’t so severe and so extensive that it was beyond the state’s ability to respond to it.
20th Jan 2018 - KTVQ Billings News
100 Million Dead Trees Prompt Fears of Giant Wildfires
The more than 100 million trees that died in California after being weakened by drought and insect infestations have transformed large swaths of the Sierra Nevada into browned-out tree cemeteries. In some areas more than 90 percent of trees are dead.This week a group of scientists warned in the journal BioScience that the dead trees could produce wildfires on a scale and of an intensity that California has never seen.
19th Jan 2018 - New York Times
NE Florida wildfire season is coming as Forestry Service does prescribed burns to head it off
The heat’s been on in some state forests in Northeast Florida lately, despite the frigid temperatures of recent weeks. State forestry crews have been systematically burning dead underbrush in an effort to prevent wildfires over the next few months.
The hazard reduction burns were done in recent days after forestry firefighters fought 49 wildfires in Florida in the first week of 2018, a number that jumped to 97 as of Wednesday. Due to two periods of hard freezes that killed grass and trees, the wildfire danger index for Duval and Nassau counties is “high,” with St. Johns, Clay and Putnam in the “moderate” range, Florida Forest Service wildfire mitigation specialist Annaleasa Winter said.
19th Jan 2018 - Florida Times-Union
Wine Country Wildfire Survivors Victimized by Skyrocketing Rents, Evictions
Some survivors of the wine country wildfires are being evicted from their homes after sharp rent increases. Evictions in burn-affected areas are up – and up dramatically. The wine country wildfires killed 24 and displaced thousands more.
19th Jan 2018 - CBS San Francisco Bay Area
After wildfires, it gets tougher to insure a home in California
California suffered record-breaking wildfires last year and now insurers are taking a harder look at fire risk. Urban areas are increasingly getting considered as a fire hazard. Insurers refused to renew thousands of policies in fire areas after previous disasters. A proposed state bill would limit insurers' ability to cut coverage in areas after a wildfire disaster.
18th Jan 2018 - CNBC
After wildfires, California debates insurance reforms
17th Jan 2018 - The Mercury News
Bill calls for "de-energizing" power lines during wildfire threats
18th Jan 2018 - Fairfield Daily Republic
Wildfires bust Routt County's budget
After spending more than $80,000 fighting wildfires in 2017, Routt County commissioners are studying how the county can more effectively spend that money to improve the county’s five rural fire protection districts. The county had budgeted $31,000 to fight wildfires, but spent $83,028. Emergency Management Director David “Mo” DeMorat believes the county and the rural fire protection districts in Steamboat Springs, North Routt, Yampa, West Routt and Oak Creek can realize greater long-term benefits by instead spending that money on upgrading the effectiveness of their volunteer firefighters and the tools available to them.
18th Jan 2018 - The Denver Post
Cars in Northern California burn zones inspected to prevent fraud
Thousands of cars destroyed in Northern California during the October wildfires are being identified and having their state records updated this month as part of an effort spearheaded by the California Department of Motor Vehicles in partnership with local law enforcement agencies. The DMV announced Thursday it hopes by the end of this month to have finished examining an estimated 4,000 destroyed vehicles burned during the fires, most of them in Sonoma County. DMV investigators are working with the CHP, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Rosa Police Department on the operation, which began Jan. 11 at the direction of state emergency officials.
18th Jan 2018 - Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Napa's Sen. Dodd introduces bill to reduce wildfires from downed power lines
Sen. Bill Dodd has introduced a bill to reduce the risk of wildfires caused by downed power lines. The bill requires electric utilities to adopt comprehensive policies and procedures for proactively de-energizing power lines during extreme weather. “This last fire season underscored the need to think innovatively and proactively about fire prevention,” said Dodd, D-Napa. “We know downed power lines have caused devastating fires in the past, and we need electric utilities and the Public Utilities Commission to plan ahead and implement best practices.
17th Jan 2018 - Napa Valley Register
Officials predict another bad year in Kansas for wildfires
This could be another bad year for wildfires in Kansas. That warning issued earlier this week comes after back to back years of the worst wildfires in state history, which burned thousands of acres and destroyed homes, cattle, fences and powerlines. “We’re setting up for about the same thing again this spring,” Comanche County Fire Chief Greg Ellis said. “Everybody’s nervous.”
16th Jan 2018 - Wichita Eagle
How to save your town from wildfires
Given that global warming will intensify the problem, it may even be worth thinking in terms of managed retreat, gradually abandoning some of the highest-risk areas as we recognize that the cost of trying to protect them doesn't make financial or ecological sense. There are no simple solutions to the growing threat of wildfires in a warming world, but communities can take steps to protect themselves with a flexible, science-based, and collaborative approach. Grassroots involvement and good leadership can help make that happen.
16th Jan 2018 - The Week Magazine
California wildfires in 2017: A staggering toll of lost life and homes
This year will go down as one of the worst in California wildfire history, the latest state fire statistics show. As of Dec. 11: Large wildfires had destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 structures in California this year, a higher tally than the last nine years combined. Large wildfires had killed 43 people – 41 civilians and two firefighters. That’s higher than the last 10 years combined, state figures show.
2nd Jan 2018 - Sacramento Bee
The wildfires in California just keep shattering records this year
The catastrophic wildfires of 2017 didn't just destroy neighborhoods and livelihoods -- they also annihilated records. And the destruction's not over. The Thomas Fire, which has torched the equivalent of Dallas and Miami combined, is still raging in Southern California.
26th Dec 2017 - CNN
US launches ambitious plan to battle rangeland wildfires
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Friday said it will create an Environmental Impact Statement concerning fuel breaks and another on fuels reduction and restoration for Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, California, Utah, and Washington. The agency said the documents when finished will help speed the process for future landscape-scale projects in the Great Basin by providing a blanket approval for similar areas that will likely just need minor additional environmental reviews to proceed. “It saves teams from having to do the same kinds of analysis 10, 15, 20 times over the next 20 years,” BLM spokesman Ken Frederick said.
23rd Dec 2017 - The Denver Post
