Category Archives: Wildfires

Wildfires in Europe burn area equivalent to one-fifth of Belgium

Posted on by

Experts say drought and extreme high temperatures likely to make it a record year for destruction by fires

Across Europe, an area equivalent to one-fifth of Belgium has been ravaged by flames as successive searing heatwaves and a historic drought propel the continent towards what experts say is likely to be a record year for wildfire destruction.

According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (Effis), 659,541 hectares (1.6m acres) of land burned across the continent between January and mid-August, the most at this time of year since records began in 2006.

Continue reading...

Thousands evacuated as smouldering French wildfire reignites

Posted on by

High temperatures and drought in the wine-growing region of Gironde force partial closure of motorway

About 10,000 people have been evacuated to save them from wildfires in the Gironde region of south-west France after a massive blaze that destroyed more than 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of pine forest in July sparked up again and tore through woodland.

“The fire is rampant and has now spread to the Landes départment,” local authorities in the wine-growing départment said. The French government doubled the number of firefighters to 1,000 on Wednesday afternoon, supported by planes dropping water.

Continue reading...

Canadian province declares emergency amid worst wildfires in over 50 years

Posted on by

Blazes have consumed vast tracts of forest in Newfoundland and Labrador and remain out of control

Officials in Canada’s easternmost province have issued a state of emergency as crews battle the worst wildfires the region has experienced in more than half a century.

Sprawling blazes have consumed thousands of hectares of forest in Newfoundland and Labrador over the last two weeks and remain out of control.

Continue reading...

Homes destroyed as Washington state wildfire forces evacuation of town

Posted on by

Fourteen structures burnt in Lind, in east of state, as forecasters in California warn ‘sleeping giant’ McKinney fire could grow further

A small town in Washington state was evacuated due to a fast-moving fire that burned a half-dozen homes, as crews in California made progress against the state’s deadliest and largest wildfire of the year.

In Washington, the Adams county sheriff’s office warned residents of Lind on Thursday afternoon to flee due to the encroaching flames.

Continue reading...

California hamlet reduced to ashes as wildfire rages on

Posted on by

Several thousand people are under evacuation orders and at least four bodies have been found due to the McKinney fire

A huge wildfire raging in northern California continues to burn out of control as residents of a scenic river town razed by the fire return to scenes of destruction.

In the hamlet of Klamath River, home to about 200 people, most homes and businesses have turned to ash. Several thousand people in the region remain under evacuation orders, and at least four have been killed.

Continue reading...

Man trying to burn spider with lighter sparked Utah wildfire, police say

Posted on by

Cory Martin, 26, arrested on suspicion of reckless burn and drug possession after telling police he tried to set fire to spider

A Utah man has been arrested on suspicion of starting a wildfire while trying to burn a spider with his lighter.

Cory Martin, 26, told police that he spotted the spider on Monday while he was in a hiking area in the foothills south of Salt Lake City near the city of Springville. He acknowledged starting the fire, but did not explain why he was trying to burn the spider.

Continue reading...

Death toll rises to four in California’s biggest wildfire this year

Posted on by

McKinney fire has burned more than 100 buildings in north of state as other blazes ignite in US west

The death toll from an explosive wildfire raging in northern California has risen to four, after two more bodies were found within the burn zone in the remote Klamath national forest.

Search teams discovered two bodies on Monday at separate residences along State Route 96, one of the only roads in and out of the region near the state line with Oregon, the Siskiyou county sheriff’s office said in a statement.

Continue reading...

Two bodies found in burned vehicle in path of raging California wildfire

Posted on by

Bodies discovered in north-west near Oregon border as McKinney fire, which exploded in size over the weekend, turns deadly

Two people were found dead in the path of the a wildfire raging across northern California, as firefighters raced to contain the blaze amid searing temperatures and impending thunderstorms.

The McKinney fire in northern California, which has grown into California’s largest this year, is one of several large fires burning across the US west and one of several concurrent extreme weather events battering the region.

Continue reading...

McKinney fire grows into California’s largest this year as thunderstorms fuel concerns

Posted on by

Huge blaze burns out of control as crews also battling fires in Montana, Idaho, Hawaii and Texas

A wildfire in California grew to the largest the state has seen yet this year, as firefighting crews braced for thunderstorms and hot, windy conditions.

The McKinney Fire was burning out of control in northern California’s Klamath national forest, near the Oregon border, with expected thunderstorms a big concern, said US Forest Service spokesperson Adrienne Freeman.

Continue reading...

Evacuations ordered in northern California after new wildfire breaks out

Posted on by

McKinney fire has grown to 18,000 acres in less than 12 hours and has zero containment amid searing heat, drought and lightning

Evacuations have been ordered around Klamath national forest in northern California after a major new wildfire broke out amid searing heat, a prolonged drought and lightning across the region.

The fire, known as the McKinney fire, has grown to 18,000 acres in less than 12 hours and has zero containment. It has forced officials in Siskiyou county to order the evacuation of nearby communities, a virtual repeat of the Washburn and Oak fires that have recently ignited in California’s western Sierra Nevada.

Continue reading...

Adrenaline-seeking firefighter started French wildfires, say prosecutors

Posted on by

Unnamed man in his 30s with ‘a need for social recognition’ faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted

A firefighter from the south of France is responsible for a series of wildfires in the region which he started in a quest for adrenaline, French authorities have said.

The man, a volunteer firefighter from the Herault region, was arrested on Wednesday, regional prosecutors said.

Continue reading...

‘Parks are wild by nature’: Yosemite visitors undeterred by raging forest fires

Posted on by

Picnics, treks, camping and swimming continue despite hazardous air quality and ash in national park

Yosemite national park’s dramatic vistas were shrouded by a thick grey haze on Monday afternoon, as smoke from the fiercely burning Oak fire hung over its granite peaks. Along the road winding toward the valley, skeletal trees told the story of the Washburn fire that tore through just weeks earlier.

The blazes – the two largest to ignite in California so far this year – have besieged Yosemite during one of its busiest months, causing entrance closures, cancellations, and cloaking the landmark in hazardous air.

Continue reading...

California fire crews make progress against ferocious Oak fire near Yosemite

Posted on by

Fire burning near famous national park exploded in size over weekend but crews achieved 10% containment Monday morning

Firefighters made progress against a ferocious wildfire in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada that forced thousands of residents from their homes in the gateway to Yosemite national park.

The Oak fire started on Friday near the town of Midpines, California, and exploded in size over the weekend.

Continue reading...

Oak fire remains uncontained as Al Gore warns ‘civilization at stake’

Posted on by

Blaze exploded on Friday and quickly grew to 11,900 acres in size as Gavin Newsom declares state of emergency for Yosemite area

The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, declared a state of emergency for an area close to Yosemite national park, mobilizing thousands to tackle a wildfire that exploded on Friday, grew to more than 15,600 acres and on Sunday remained entirely uncontained.

Discussing the ferocity and fast-growing nature of the blaze, the former vice-president Al Gore, long a campaigner for action on the climate crisis, warned: “The survival of our civilization is at stake.”

Continue reading...

Reforestation company ‘devastated’ after causing wildfire in Spain

Posted on by

Blaze, estimated to have damaged 14,000 hectares, started after spark escaped from soil excavator

An international reforestation company has said it is “devastated” after one of its contractors accidentally caused a massive fire in Spain, where dozens of calamitous wildfires have raged this week.

Land Life, a Netherlands-based company with offices in Spain and the US, said the fire broke out on Monday at one of its reforestation projects in Ateca in the north-eastern region of Aragón.

Continue reading...

Spanish man filmed escaping wildfire treated for serious burns

Posted on by

Man in 50s emerges from blaze with clothes burned to rags and flames flickering around him

A Spanish man in his 50s is being treated for serious burns after escaping the flames that engulfed his excavator as he tried to fight one of the wildfires raging in the north-western region of Castilla y León.

Video of the incident, which took place near the town of Tábara in Zamora province on Monday afternoon, shows the vehicle and its driver, Ángel Martín Arjona, being swallowed by the fire and disappearing behind drifts of smoke.

Continue reading...

Forest fires rage across Europe as heatwave sends temperatures soaring

Posted on by

Civil defence authorities battle blazes that have forced evacuation of thousands of people across continent

Firefighters in Portugal, Spain, France, Greece and Morocco are battling forest fires raging across tens of thousands of hectares as this week’s heatwave continues to bring extreme temperatures and cause hundreds of deaths across south-western Europe.

The second heatwave of the summer – with temperatures hitting 47C (116F) in Portugal and 45C in Spain – has triggered wildfires that have forced the evacuation of thousands of people.

Continue reading...

Police issue wildfires warning after blazes in Greater Manchester

Posted on by

Force urges people not to start fires, including barbecues, and report incidents of arson

Police have issued a warning in advance of the potentially unprecedented heatwave coming to the UK after a series of wildfires on moorland near Manchester which they now believe were started deliberately.

The blaze began last weekend and swept across part of Saddleworth Moor near a car park close to the Dovestone reservoir.

Continue reading...

Firefighters tackle southern Europe wildfires as heatwave passes 45C

Posted on by

Portugal and Spain among countries affected as rescue forces from Greece help battle blazes in southern France

Firefighters are working tirelessly to tackle wildfires raging in parts of southern Europe as a result of soaring temperatures linked to the climate crisis.

France, Portugal and Spain are among the European countries particularly affected, with temperatures of more than 45C (113F) recorded during a heatwave that is also sweeping the UK.

Continue reading...

Thousands evacuated as heat causes wildfires in Europe and north Africa

Posted on by

Portugal declares ‘state of contingency’ as France, Spain and Morocco also battle fires, while record heat hits China

Thousands of people in Portugal, Spain, France and Morocco have been evacuated from their homes as firefighters tackle wildfires caused by this week’s heatwave, which has brought extreme temperatures of more than 45C (113F) to parts of Europe and north Africa.

One person has died and at least 135 people have suffered mainly minor injuries since wildfires began in Portugal last week. A “state of contingency” has been in effect since Sunday, and about 800 people have been evacuated from their homes, according to the country’s Civil Protection Authority.

Continue reading...