1500 evacuated as Spain’s fire season starts early
March 24, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — More than 1,500 people were evacuated as a major forest fire raged in Spain’s eastern Castellon province on Friday, marking an early start to the nation's fire season amid bone dry conditions.
Firefighter battling Virginia wildfire dies in ATV accident
March 11, 2023 GMTROSEANN, Va. (AP) — A firefighter battling a wildfire in western Virginia was killed when an ATV overturned, the state Department of Forestry announced Friday. Rocky S. Wood was killed while fighting a 15-acre wildfire near the Roseann community in Buchanan County on Thursday night, the department said in a news release.
Post-wildfire conditions result in poor recovery for fish
March 11, 2023 GMTALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Fishing in rivers and streams that cross through a national monument in northern New Mexico is off limits now as wildlife managers look for ways make the area more habitable following a catastrophic fire and years of subsequent flooding.
New Jersey Pinelands fire that threatened homes is contained
March 8, 2023 GMTLITTLE EGG HARBOR, N.J. (AP) — A wind-whipped forest fire in the southern New Jersey Pinelands that threatened 16 homes Tuesday was fully contained by nightfall, and firefighters said they believed the homes were no longer in jeopardy.
Work begins to clear water canals following New Mexico fire
March 6, 2023 GMTALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — It's tradition in New Mexico's rural communities — to gather with neighbors each spring, shovels and rakes in hand, to clean the earthen irrigation canals that will direct snowmelt from the surrounding mountains to crops, gardens and orchards.
Carbon emissions from boreal forest fires rose in 2021
March 2, 2023 GMTPhillip Meintzer was hours away by car from the largest fires raging in the forests of British Columbia and Alberta in summer of 2021, but the air was still thick with smoke from the Canadian infernos.
New Mexico law signed to help wildfire, flooding recovery
February 20, 2023 GMTSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday signed to use zero-interest loans to help local governments in the arid, Southwest state repair or replace public infrastructure damaged by wildfires or subsequent flooding.
Colorado ponders storing carbon in defunct oil and gas wells
February 17, 2023 GMTDENVER (AP) — From Colorado's high desert to the wooded hills of Pennsylvania, millions of oil and gas wells sit deserted, plunging thousands of feet into the earth. Many haven't been plugged, some leak greenhouse gases.
Wildfire damage prompts calls for funding water system
February 14, 2023 GMTALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Dozens of traditional irrigation systems that supply community farms, gardens and orchards in northern New Mexico won’t flow with water this spring, forcing many families to decide whether to risk planting crops this year with no guarantee of water.
2 pilots walk away from Boeing 737 tanker crash in Australia
February 7, 2023 GMTPERTH, Australia (AP) — Two pilots walked away with minor injuries after a Boeing 737 jet converted for firefighting crashed in Australia, officials said Tuesday.
The twin-engine tanker owned by Canadian-based Coulson Aviation crashed in Fitzgerald River National Park in southern Western Australia state while fighting wildfires late Monday.
Chile wildfires spread amid heat wave as death toll rises
February 4, 2023 GMTSANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile extended an emergency declaration to yet another region on Saturday as firefighters struggled to control dozens of raging wildfires that have claimed at least 22 lives amid a scorching heat wave that has broken records.
13 dead in Chile amid struggle to contain raging wildfires
February 4, 2023 GMTSANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — At least 13 people were reported dead as of Friday night as a result of the more than 150 wildfires burning across Chile that have destroyed homes and thousands of acres of forest while the South American country is in the midst of a scorching heat wave.
PG&E to face manslaughter trial over deadly California fire
February 2, 2023 GMTREDDING, Calif. (AP) — Pacific Gas & Electric will face trial for manslaughter over its role in a 2020 wildfire in Northern California that killed four people, a judge ruled Wednesday.
The judge in Shasta County ruled after a preliminary hearing that there was enough evidence for the nation's largest utility to face trial on 11 felony and misdemeanor charges, including involuntary manslaughter and recklessly starting a fire.
Oregon pins hopes on mass timber to boost housing, jobs
January 28, 2023 GMTPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Inside a warehouse at the industrial Port of Portland lies what some believe could be the answer to Oregon's housing crisis — a prototype of an affordable housing unit made from mass timber.
AI wildfire detection bill gets initial approval in Colorado
January 26, 2023 GMTDENVER (AP) — A year after the most destructive wildfire in the state's history scorched nearly 1,100 homes, Colorado lawmakers are considering joining other Western states by adopting artificial intelligence in the hopes of detecting blazes before they burn out of control.
Recovering from wildfire, New Mexico bill passes first test
January 24, 2023 GMTALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A measure that would clear the way for New Mexico to provide zero-interest loans to local governments to repair or replace public infrastructure damaged by wildfires or post-fire flooding has cleared its first legislative hurdle.
Feds send $930 million to curb ‘crisis’ of US West wildfires
January 19, 2023 GMTBILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The U.S. is directing $930 million toward reducing wildfire dangers in 10 western states by clearing trees and underbrush from national forests, the Biden administration announced Thursday, as officials struggle to protect communities from destructive infernos being made worse by climate change.
Landslides, sinkholes, floodwaters plague soggy California
January 11, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Sinkholes swallowed cars and floodwaters swamped towns and swept away a small boy as California was wracked by more wild winter while the next in a powerful string of storms loomed on the horizon Tuesday.
Crews battling fire near northern New Mexico burn scar
January 11, 2023 GMTMORA COUNTY, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a fire has broken out near a wildfire burn scar in northern New Mexico, temporarily closing traffic on one highway.
The Mora County Sheriff's Office said on its Facebook page that crews have been working to control the blaze since it was reported Tuesday afternoon.
California deluge forces mass evacuations, boy swept away
January 10, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — As another powerful storm walloped California, a 5-year-old boy was swept away by floodwaters Monday on the state’s central coast and an entire seaside community that is home to Prince Harry, Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities was ordered to evacuate on the fifth anniversary of deadly mudslides there.
New Mexico delegation seeks changes to wildfire aid rules
January 7, 2023 GMTSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s congressional delegation says the U.S. government should make changes to rules proposed for processing damage claims stemming from a historic wildfire sparked by forest managers.
EPA moves to toughen standards for deadly soot pollution
January 6, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is proposing tougher standards for a deadly air pollutant, saying that reducing soot from tailpipes, smokestacks and wildfires could prevent thousands of premature deaths a year.
California snowpack off to great start amid severe drought
January 4, 2023 GMTSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The snowpack covering California's mountains is off to one of its best starts in 40 years, officials announced Tuesday, raising hopes that the drought-stricken state could soon see relief in the spring when the snow melts and begins to refill parched reservoirs.
New Mexico seeks changes to US rules for wildfire claims
December 29, 2022 GMTALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is asking that changes be made to rules proposed by the U.S. government as it processes damage claims from a historic wildfire sparked by forest managers.
Whitebark pine that feeds grizzlies is threatened, US says
December 14, 2022 GMTBILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Whitebark pine trees can live more than 1,000 years, but in just two decades more than a quarter of the trees that are a key food source for some grizzly bears have been killed by disease, climate change, wildfires and voracious beetles, government officials said as they announced federal protections Wednesday.
Dolphins, Chargers meet trying to bolster playoff standing
December 8, 2022 GMTMIAMI (8-4) at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (6-6)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Dolphins by 3 1/2.
Population increase for endangered red squirrels in Arizona
December 2, 2022 GMTSAFFORD, Ariz. (AP) — The latest survey shows another increase in the population of the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel in the Pinaleno Mountains of southeastern Arizona, according to authorities.
Fire plan would cut 2.4 million New Jersey Pinelands trees
November 25, 2022 GMTBASS RIVER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — Up to 2.4 million trees would be cut down as part of a project to prevent major wildfires in a federally protected New Jersey forest heralded as a unique environmental treasure.
Crews battle brush fire at Indiana’s Brown County State Park
November 22, 2022 GMTNASHVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Crews continued working Tuesday to douse a fire that began over the weekend in southern Indiana’s Brown County State Park and has scorched more than 100 acres.
Human remains found in rubble of one of 2 Los Angeles fires
November 21, 2022 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Remains of a man were found in the rubble of one of two major fires in Los Angeles during the weekend, authorities said Sunday.
The remains were found shortly after noon as firefighters continued to cool down smoldering debris, fire spokesperson Brian Humphrey said in a statement.
Fire danger elevated as strong winds hit Southern California
November 19, 2022 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Another round of strong Santa Ana winds swept through Southern California on Saturday, increasing the risk of wildfires as humidity levels plummeted.
The National Weather Service said winds will be strongest in the morning and begin diminishing by Saturday afternoon.
Fire near Neah Bay prompts evacuations, school closures
November 18, 2022 GMTNEAH BAY, Wash. (AP) — A wildfire at the far northwestern tip of the Olympic Peninsula prompted more than 100 people to evacuate neighborhoods in Neah Bay on Thursday, and nearby schools have closed.
Powerful Santa Ana winds lash Southern California
November 16, 2022 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Powerful Santa Ana winds lashed Southern California on Wednesday, toppling big rigs on highways and spreading a small fire that destroyed two structures.
High wind warnings stretched across a wide swath of the region, and red flag warnings for high fire danger were posted in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Wildfire burns about 2,000 acres in Boone National Forest
November 12, 2022 GMTLEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A wildfire in Kentucky burned about 2,000 acres of the Daniel Boone National Forest until rain helped extinguish the blaze, an emergency official said.
The fire burned for several days until Friday in the Cut Gap area of Rockcastle County, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. The U.S.
Wildfire burns part of southern Ohio’s Wayne National Forest
November 10, 2022 GMTPEDRO, Ohio (AP) — Officials say a 1,300-acre wildfire in Wayne National Forest in far southern Ohio began with multiple small wildfires earlier this week.
A statement Thursday from Wayne National Forest said firefighters were working to contain the blaze and urged the public to avoid the area burning in Lawrence County, in the national forest and on privately owned property.
Officials: 2 killed in small plane crash in rural Nebraska
November 10, 2022 GMTNORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — A pilot and a passenger in a small airplane were killed when the plane crashed in a rural area near North Platte in central Nebraska, officials said.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the single-engine plane crashed around 9:30 a.m.
Rain, snowfall reduce risk of wildfires in California
November 7, 2022 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — A turn to wet weather has blunted an already moderate wildfire season in California but some risk remains as changing climate has made a rainy fall no guarantee of a stormy winter.
Rain helps douse Smokies wildfire caused by motorcycle crash
November 7, 2022 GMTMARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Rain is helping douse a wildfire in the Smoky Mountains caused by a motorcycle crash, officials said.
The blaze along Tennessee State Route 115/U.S. 129 started Sunday and grew to approximately 80 to 100 acres, news outlets reported.
Two families settle with PacifiCorp over Archie Creek fire
November 4, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Electric company PacifiCorp has entered a settlement with two families who were victims of the catastrophic Labor Day fires in southern Oregon in 2020, according to attorneys representing the families, the Oregonian reports.
‘Burn boss’ arrest inflames Western land use tensions
October 27, 2022 GMTSALEM, Ore. (AP) — When U.S. Forest Service personnel carried out a planned burn in a national forest in Oregon on Oct. 13, it wound up burning fencing that a local family, the Hollidays, uses to corral cattle.
Official: 2021 Colorado wildfire losses surpass $2 billion
October 27, 2022 GMTDENVER (AP) — A wildfire that destroyed nearly 1,100 homes and businesses in suburban Denver last winter caused more than $2 billion in losses, making it by far the costliest in Colorado history, the state insurance commissioner said.
Zimbabwe’s focus on wheat set to yield biggest-ever harvest
October 26, 2022 GMTHARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe says it is on the brink of its biggest wheat harvest in history, thanks in large part to efforts to overcome food supply problems caused by the war in Ukraine.
Regulators propose $155M fine for PG&E for 2020 wildfire
October 25, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California regulators proposed on Tuesday fining Pacific Gas & Electric more than $155 million for sparking a 2020 wildfire in Northern California that destroyed 200 homes and left four people dead.
Fire-stricken rural New Mexico warily eyes insurance fight
October 24, 2022 GMTALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Manuel and Marcy Silva combed through the charred rubble that used to be their home, searching for any salvageable bits in the wake of the largest wildfire in New Mexico history.
Fires in Nebraska, Iowa spur evacuations, destroy homes
October 24, 2022 GMTLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Prairie fires pushed by tinder-dry conditions and winds topping 60 mph (96 kph) led to evacuations in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa and destroyed homes and injured two firefighters south of Nebraska’s capital city of Lincoln, officials said.
Small Missouri town ‘devastated’ by destructive wildfire
October 23, 2022 GMTWOOLDRIDGE, Mo. (AP) — Roughly half of a small Missouri town burned Saturday after a wildfire spread quickly from a farm field and destroyed or heavily damaged 23 buildings, officials said.
No one died and only one person was taken to a hospital for an injury that was not life-threatening, but the entire town of Wooldridge had to be evacuated Saturday because of the fire.
Grass fires in rural area south of Lincoln prompt evacuation
October 23, 2022 GMTLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Residents in a rural area south of Lincoln were ordered to evacuate their homes Sunday afternoon because of wind-driven grass fires in the area.
Anyone living in an area between Cortland and Firth in southern Lancaster and northern Gage counties was urged to evacuate because of the fires.
US agency to cover matching costs following New Mexico fire
October 20, 2022 GMTALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture will waive cost-sharing requirements for New Mexico farmers and ranchers affected by the largest wildfire in the state’s recorded history.
Thick smoke in western Washington and Oregon to soon clear
October 20, 2022 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — A haze of smoke covering parts of western Washington and Oregon is expected to clear before the week's end, but only after the region reached a dubious distinction: Seattle and Portland briefly topped a list of large cities with the worst air quality in the world.